Time Immortal

Or, at least, what a roller-coaster ride is my approval of Canada’s sitting government under Stephen Harper. Earlier this week, I was very pleased to see Harper proclaiming a commitment to strenghten Canada’s presence in our northern waters, and to enforce our territorial claims in that area.

But now, with the possibility of an election being called looming, his government is distancing itself from an important piece of legislation that pertains to the unborn.

Amid rumours of an October federal election, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson Aug. 25 distanced the government from Edmonton Sherwood Park MP Ken Epp’s Unborn Victims of Crime Bill.

“We’ve heard criticisms from across the country including representatives from the medical community that Mr. Epp’s bill as presently drafted could be interpreted as instilling fetal rights,” Nicholson said.

“Let me be clear. Our government will not reopen the debate on abortion.”

But one pro-life leader said Nicholson, a Catholic, moved beyond the Conservative Party’s previous refusal to take a stand one way or another on abortion.

“He definitely entered the abortion debate - on the side of the pro-abortion camp,” said Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) president Jim Hughes. “(Epp’s) private members’ bill had a real chance of being passed and the Conservatives are denying the humanity of the child in the womb.”

Gah.