Prime Minister Stephen Harper has apparently snuffed out a brewing mini-revolt by some of his anti-abortion backbenchers. The dissident MPs on Tuesday accused the Tory leadership of muzzling them.
The dissidents say they are carrying forth a free-speech fight. Mr. Harper maintains it’s an abortion issue and he wants nothing to do with it. In the 2011 federal election, Mr. Harper pledged that he would not reopen the abortion debate.
The two sides thrashed things out at the party’s weekly caucus meeting on Wednesday. Mr. Harper apparently got his way. MPs exiting the meeting were reluctant to criticize him and his inner circle.
However, the debate is likely not over, and it leaves the prime minister walking a political tightrope. He must avoid alienating the sizeable anti-abortion faction in his caucus, and he must also please Tories who support the democratic reform principles of the now defunct Reform Party, from which the current Conservative Party sprang.
The issue erupted Tuesday when Mr. Harper refused to allow a vote on a motion by BC Member of Parliament Mark Warawa condemning sex-selective abortions. It then escalated into the fight over how much autonomy backbench MPs should have.
The conflict is the first time that Mr. Harper has failed to keep any caucus rebellion private since he took power in 2006.
The rebellion does not come at a good time for Mr. Harper. After seven years in power, the popularity of his Tories is beginning to sag.
Public opinion polls suggest that Justin Trudeau, who is on course to win the leadership of the Liberal Party in April, would likely beat Mr. Harper if an election were to be held now.
However, Mr. Harper–with a majority–does not have to call an election now. He can decide when to hold the next vote and does not have to call one until 2015. (th)
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.