Scheer says Liberals deflecting from scandals with abortion, same-sex marriage
Posted August 29, 2019 11:56 am.
Last Updated August 29, 2019 4:18 pm.
OTTAWA – Andrew Scheer says the Liberals are trying to distract from their record of failure by dredging up divisive social issues.
The Conservative leader says a government he might lead would not re-open debate on abortion or same-sex marriage.
But he says individual MPs would be free to express themselves on those issues — leaving open the possibility that private members’ bills could be used to try to restrict LGBT people’s rights or the right to abort a pregnancy.
Scheer says his MPs will be able to freely vote on matters of conscience. But he adds a Conservative government will not re-open abortion rights or same-sex marriage. Says he would oppose efforts to re-open those debates #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) August 29, 2019
Scheer says those issues are settled and, as prime minister, he would oppose any measure to re-open them.
Both have been bedevilling Scheer for the past week, since the Liberals circulated a 14-year-old video of him explaining to the House of Commons why he was opposed to same-sex marriage.
Scheer asked if his comments from 2005 same sex marriage debate were offensive. Reiterates points that these were arguments of the time, the matter is settled and he accepts that. He does not specifically say if his previous comments were offensive or if he regrets them #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) August 29, 2019
His Quebec lieutenant, meanwhile, has sown confusion over the abortion issue, telling Conservative candidates in the province that backbench MPs would not be allowed to propose private member’s bills to restrict abortion access.