The Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Isabelle Charest, acknowledges that three Caquiste deputies have paid sums to anti-abortion centers, but this is a bona fide error, she said.
Questioned by the Liberal MP for Verdun, Isabelle Melançon, Minister Charest had to rise twice in the House to reiterate that the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) was “resolutely pro-choice”.
Ms. Charest did not deny that at least one minister and two CAQ deputies funded anti-abortion centers, as Ms. Melançon asserted, citing Thursday the magazine Urbania.
The article in question pointed out that the anti-abortion movement could act insidiously and that it was not displayed with banners everywhere. It can present itself in misleading guises.
Ms. Melançon asked her CAQ counterpart to reassure the women of Quebec that the entire CAQ deputation was pro-choice.
“Beyond any doubt, our government fully respects women’s choice to dispose of their bodies. […] We are resolutely pro-choice,” said Ms. Charest.
“Now, well, there have been remittances, good faith contributions that have gone to organizations that they thought would help women. It won’t happen again,” she added.
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