THE ABORTION ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT:

POLITICIANS CAN DEAL WITH MULTIPLE ISSUES

by Sarah Sonne
Guelph Mercury, January 13 2009

This week Conservative Members of Parliament Mark Warawa and David Sweet have released statements to the press that "now is not the time to re-open the abortion debate" and that "Canada should focus on the economy as a priority."

With all due respect, it has always been Parliament's job to discuss multiple issues at the same time. Until now, the government has managed to debate and legislate the economy as well as international affairs, justice, health, and multiple other issues at the same time. This is how a nation is run. Is the government saying that because the economy is more challenging this year than it was last year that we are not going to talk about the 800 plus women that are imported to Canada annually for the sex trade either? If we cannot talk about an issue like late term abortions, how are we able to talk about infrastructure or education? We have a justice committee, will their priority be the economy as well?

There is never a good time to talk about something that is uncomfortable. But to say that the government only has the capacity to discuss one issue at a time is a poor excuse. Especially when Canadians have been hearing the "not now" excuse for 40 years.

Copyright 2009