The New Brunswick election has come and gone and pro-lifers are none the wiser. Abortion and other moral issues were being ignored, the New Brunswick Right to Life Association stated a few days before the September 23 election.
Frank McKenna’s ruling Liberal party swept to another smashing victory, winning 46 of 58 seats and with 47 per cent of the vote.
The Confederation of Regions Party (COR) won eight seats (21 per cent), the PC’s three (20.7 per cent) and the NDP, one (11 per cent).
Abortions in New Brunswick are increasing and Henry Morgentaler has announced he is already to open a free-standing abortuary in St. John. Despite this “politicians and the press have generally ignored pro-life and related moral issues,” said George Gillmore, spokesman for the New Brunswick Right to Life Association. (Telegraph-Journal, September 19)
Abortion was not even brought up in the CBC television debate, said a disappointed Michel Arsenault of Lifesavers Moncton. Lifesavers placed an advertisement in the province’s leading English papers encouraging voters to question their local candidates on the pro-life issue. The ad also stated that none of the four parties had taken a pro-life position.
In a separate press release, Mr. Arsenault pointed out the Frank McKenna’s leadership had been a hindrance to the pro-life cause by its indifference and do-nothing policy; that the PCs have a long history of tolerating abortion when they were in charge of the province; that the NDP is formally committed to pro-abortion position; and that the COR (like the federal Reform Party) hides its lack of principles on moral issues behind a referendum policy.
Organized pro-life activity in New Brunswick is restricted to the English speaking section.
