B.C. MLA under fire for saying motherhood begins at conception
After a BC Conservative MLA came under fire for saying motherhood begins at conception, the party's leader says he "will not reopen the abortion debate."
John Rustad issued a statement and posted to social media Thursday after the BC NDP called on his party to clarify its stance on the right to choose in light of a statement made by Bruce Banman at the legislature.
"Moms are the embodiment of love, strength and sacrifice. From the moment of conception through the journey of pregnancy and childbirth and throughout the myriad of challenges and triumphs that follow, mothers serve as the nurturing force that sustains life and shapes our future," the Abbotsford Abbotsford South MLA said as part of his remarks ahead of Mother's Day.
B.C. NDP Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity Kelli Paddon posted a video of the statement to social media and it was quickly followed up by a news release from the party caucus.
"At a time when reproductive rights are being ripped away in the United States, it’s extremely concerning to see a B.C. Conservative MLA using anti-choice dog-whistles on the floor of the legislature," Paddon wrote in the statement.
"British Columbians deserve to know John Rustad’s personal position, as well as hear a clear commitment that he will not allow any B.C. Conservative MLAs or candidates to oppose access to a safe and legal abortion or reproductive health.”
Rustad, posting his statement to social media, accused the party of "grasping at straws" as some polling shows a surge of support for the BC Conservatives. The reason he gave for not reopening the debate was that it is not within provincial jurisdiction.
"The 1988 Supreme Court decision is clear. This is not a provincial issue. No politician at the provincial level can challenge that decision," the statement, reiterating that he thinks the ruling party is trying to distract from its record of "failing" the people of B.C.
Premier David Eby hit back almost immediately with a social media post saying: "It’s 2024. Someone who wants to be premier of B.C. should be able to say they’re pro-choice."
Banman has not publicly commented.
The back-and-forth comes after Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau called on the leaders of all parties in B.C. to "affirm their support for reproductive health-care" citing " potential federal encroachments on abortion access."
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon was asked about this Thursday.
"Women have the right to choose. That's been the position of our party for a long time and that position has not changed," he said.
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Thursday that if his party forms government, it will not "legislate on abortion."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More Canadians are moving to the U.S. Here's one of the main reasons, according to an immigration expert
Recent data from the U.S. census revealed that more than 126,000 people moved from Canada to the U.S. in 2022. An expert said that one of the main reasons for this move is the cost of living.
Bus carrying Quebec tourists crashes in Cuba, leaving 1 dead and 26 injured
One person is dead and 26 were injured after a bus carrying Quebec tourists was involved in a collision in Cuba on Sunday.
Her gut was producing alcohol. Doctors didn't believe her
For two years doctors told her she was an alcoholic. Then they realized her gut was making alcohol from carbohydrates, a rare condition called auto-brewery syndrome.
'They need this protection': Trudeau gov't re-offers $1.5M for enhanced Pride security in Canada
For the second year, the federal government is offering up to $1.5M to Pride organizations across the country to fund enhanced security measures, amid a continued rise in anti-LGBTQ2S+ hate.
Here's how far B.C. drivers must keep from cyclists, pedestrians under new law
A new law protecting cyclists and pedestrians in British Columbia takes effect Monday, establishing minimum distances that drivers must keep from so-called vulnerable road users.
Prospective jurors in Hunter Biden's firearms case questioned on gun rights, addiction
A federal gun case against U.S. President Joe Biden’s son Hunter opened Monday with jury selection, following the collapse of a plea deal that would have avoided the spectacle of a trial so close the 2024 election.
AFN national chief blasts governments' inaction on fifth anniversary of MMIWG report
On the fifth anniversary of a national inquiry's report into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is blasting all levels of government for what she calls slow progress to stop the crisis.
B.C. school district apologizes for asking students 'Should Israel exist?'
The Burnaby School District superintendent has issued an apology and launched an investigation after a Grade 6/7 class was presented with a question regarding the existence of Israel.
Toyota apologizes for cheating on vehicle testing and halts production of three models
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized Monday for massive cheating on certification tests for seven vehicle models as the automaker suspended production of three of them.