Voters in some part of New Brunswick are receiving subtle, and not-so-subtle, messages on how abortion should influence their vote.
Catholic parishioners in the Diocese of Saint John have been issued a letter from their bishop, Robert Harris, encouraging them to consider their faith when they head to the polls.
“As Catholic women and men, we have an obligation to inform ourselves on the issues…and of the positions taken by those who are presenting themselves as candidates,” the letter states. “This is especially true when a question of strong moral consequence becomes an issue in an election.”
While abortion isn’t mentioned in the letter specifically, some parishioners feel the bishop’s words will have an impact.
“They’re gonna vote the bishop’s way…you gotta read between the lines I guess,” said one parishioner.
“I’m OK with that. Our bishop is a very wise leader,” said another. “He asks us to think about things.”
When asked about the issue during a campaign stop in Fredericton on Monday, New Brunswick Liberal Leader Brian Gallant stood by his position.
“We have to respect all rights, and that includes a woman’s right to choose,” said Gallant. “We’ve made it very clear that we would act swiftly to find the barriers to that right and eliminate them. As premier, you can’t cherry pick which rights you want to respect and which rights you don’t want to respect.”
It is rare for abortion access to become a provincial election issue in New Brunswick, but the recent closure of Fredericton’s Morgentaler Clinic – the province’s only private abortion clinic – placed the issue squarely on the election agenda.
By law, a woman in New Brunswick who wants an abortion covered by medicare must have two doctors certify in writing that it is medically necessary and it must be done by a specialist in one of two approved hospitals.
New Brunswick Premier David Alward has said there is no need to change the law.
But Gallant has said it is a barrier and he would launch a review aimed at getting rid of all barriers to abortion.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Norm McFarlane is surprised to see a renewed debate over abortion, and said it could be a game changer in the provincial election.
“I think it will sway quite a few votes. I don’t see it as being a big issue but I think it will sway a lot of voters and the problem is, most of those voters are seniors and the seniors are the ones who really believe in this,” said McFarlane.
In Fredericton, some residents have been shocked to find postcards containing graphic images of a dismembered fetus in their mailboxes, urging residents not to vote for Gallant.
Fredericton police have received several complaints about the postcards, but say it isn’t clear whether they violate a law or municipal bylaw.
Two groups, Campaign Life Coalition Youth and the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, have acknowledged responsibility for the postcards but have since stopped placing them in mailboxes.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron
