Prominent Conservative blogger Stephen Taylor proposes a response that Stephen Harper should deliver to Michael Ignatieff's call for funding for abortions in developing countries:
"Mr. Ignatieff doesn't seem to realize that in the past 34 years, we Canadians closed the divisive debate on abortion in this country. This topic has split families and the debate has caused heartache for countless Canadians. We are saddened by Mr. Ignatieff's attempt to reopen the topic for discussion and to callously use the philosophical debate over life and the exercise of reproductive rights as a political football to be tossed about carelessly.
Mr. Ignatieff we've moved past this. We will not allow you to bring the American-style politics of abortion to this country as a wedge issue to divide Canadians.
Canadians that we're consulting these days are concerned about jobs and the economic recovery. While Mr. Ignatieff wants to hold university style seminar discussions about abortion, we're focused on phase II of our Economic Action Plan."
A couple of responses:
1. Michael Ignatieff hasn't proposed reopening the Canadian debate on abortion. He did nothing of the kind. Stephen Harper said HIS priority for the upcoming G8 meeting is the health of women in developing countries. He, Stephen Harper, put it on the table. It is a perfectly legitimate position to take that access to safe abortions is an important part of protecting women's health. It's also a legitimate position to say that funding abortions abroad is wrong. Neither position in any way changes the rights that women in Canada have even a tiny little bit. Michael Ignatieff isn't proposing to reopen the Canadian debate and all the "hidden agenda" stuff aside, neither is Stephen Harper. In other words, Taylor's response is a giant red herring. This has nothing to do with the state of Canadian abortion law.
2. Taylor concludes (after the obligatory "university seminar" cheap shot - I guess to Taylor any policy position that Ignatieff takes is a mere academic exercise) to say "we're focused on phase II of our Economic Action Plan." Sure. True. The economy is the number one issue facing the country. Of course, Stephen Harper is also focused - or at least he claims he is - on protecting women's health in the developing world. That's his other priority, right? So Harper is focused on phase two of the Economic Action Plan and helping women abroad. Oh, and Senate reform. And getting rid of the gun registry. And the Conservative Party's crime legislation. Now, none of these policy proposals are in any way "divisive" - to use Taylor's words - right? There's a full national consensus on all of them, correct? That's the litmus test before we propose something, I hear. If it's not about the economy and there isn't a consensus, it cannot be discussed. Gotcha.
And to all of my beloved Globe commenters from my last post who responded with some variation of "abortion is murder." I respect your position. I disagree, but you have every right in the world to your beliefs. Stephen Harper also has every right in the world to come out and say: "No, my government will not fund abortions abroad as part of the initiative I proposed."
Anyone want to bet what the odds of that are?
(File photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)