Name: ‘I’m pro-choice’: Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole reaffirms where he stands on abortion
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‘I’m pro-choice’: Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole reaffirms where he stands on abortion

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close This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To orderpresentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distributionto colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire aboutpermissions/licensing, please go to: OTTAWA—reaffirmed his pro-choice position Tuesday as social conservatives make a concerted effort to change the stance on abortion laws.Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, O’Toole said the Conservatives are a “grassroots party” and acknowledged there are “different perspectives” within the party’s ranks.The Conservative leader was responding to questions about social conservatives’ attempts to put abortion policy on the agenda when the party gathers for a virtual policy convention next week.“As a leader, I was elected as someone that has a track record, very clear, on these issues,” O’Toole said.“I’m pro-choice, and I’ve always stood for the rights of Canadians.”O’Toole did not address the question of whether he would spend “political capital” to make sure the party’s policy — that a Conservative government would not support abortion legislation —stayed in place. The Star reported Monday that Campaign Life Coalition, an influential social conservative group, is planning to try and force a vote at the convention that would embed anti-abortion language in the Conservative party’s constitution.In an email to supporters, CLC’s national president Jeff Gunnarson accused the party’s “swamp establishment” of blocking social conservative policy resolutions. Gunnarson will now try to force a vote to change language in the party’s constitution to reflect that Conservatives recognize the dignity of human life “from conception to natural death.” He told supporters that that would make the “CPC an officially pro-life party.”It’s not clear how successful CLC and other social conservative groups will be, but relitigating abortion policy is a distraction O’Toole likely wants to avoid.The Conservative leader, heading into his first convention since winning the job in August, has tried to keep his party focused on the post-pandemic economic recovery — the issue he considers the ballot box question in the coming election.That message has been overshadowed by unnamed MPs criticizing O’Toole in the press, wondering what the party’s election pitch is, and raising concerns about O’Toole’s forthcoming environmental policies.O’Toole has downplayed those reports — which have surfaced in multiple media outlets, including the Star — and told reporters Tuesday he expects the party to emerge from the upcoming election focused and united.“I do think you will see … a Conservative party united, a Conservative party ready to lead, and a Conservative party relentlessly focused at creating jobs in all sectors and in all regions of the country,” O’Toole said. Read more about: JOIN THE CONVERSATION Q:Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free)Sign InRegisterConversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the . The Star does not endorse these opinions.Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Allrights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content isexpressly prohibited without the prior written consent of TorontoStar Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies ofToronto Star articles, please go to:

close This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To orderpresentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distributionto colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire aboutpermissions/licensing, please go to: OTTAWA—reaffirmed his pro-choice position Tuesday as social conservatives make a concerted effort to change the stance on abortion laws.Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, O’Toole said the Conservatives are a “grassroots party” and acknowledged there are “different perspectives” within the party’s ranks.The Conservative leader was responding to questions about social...

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‘I’m pro-choice’: Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole reaffirms where he stands on abortion

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