Inside Politics

And then there were three: More Tory backbenchers join Brad Trost's battle against the IPPF

by Kady O'Malley Posted: September 30, 2011 1:28 PM Last Updated: September 30, 2011 1:55 PM
Just days after Brad Trost condemned his own government for its "apathetic" position on abortion, a second Conservative backbencher has joined the chorus.

Just moments ago, Saskatoon-Wanuskewin MP Maurice Vellacott issued a scathing press release accusing the International Planned Parenthood Federation of "trying to dupe  us into believing that because Canadian taxpayer dollars are going to countries where abortion is supposedly illegal, the money won't be spent on abortion." 

You can read the full screed on his parliamentary website.

Meanwhile, in what may or may not have been a case of purest coincidence (albeit given the timing, one that would raise the eyebrows of Ripley), the following motion was placed on the Notice Paper for today by fellow backbencher Leon Benoit:

M-268 -- September 29, 2011 -- Mr. Benoit (Vegreville--Wainwright) -- That, in the opinion of the House, part of Margaret Sanger's philosophy constitutes eugenics, and that the House condemn the use of her name by the International Planned Parenthood Federation for the annual Margaret Sanger award.

So, what does it all mean? 

Well, if it turns out that Benoit and Vellacott are the only members of the current Conservative caucus bold enough to stick their necks out in response to Trost's prediction that his pro-life colleagues would take an "aggressive stance" in voicing their concerns in future, their efforts are likely to be largely ignored by the powers that be. 

Then again, it's early days yet -- if more IPPF-related private members' business starts to pop up on the Order Paper, and more Conservative MPs start to speak out publicly on the issue, the PM may find himself under pressure to rethink his oft-repeated -- and, as far as I know, entirely genuine -- assertion that abortion is not, and will not be, a priority for his government. 

Tags: abortion, blackberry jungle, brad trost, cancel the reservation for post-work PMO drinks, maurice vellacott