EDMONTON — United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney says he will not legislate on abortion even though party members passed a resolution that advocates on both sides say could do just that.
“I’ve been clear that we won’t be bringing forward any legislative measures on abortion,” Kenney said at the legislature Tuesday.
At the party’s founding convention on the weekend, members voted 74 per cent in favour of a resolution that would require parents to be notified before any invasive medical procedure was performed on a minor.
The anti-abortion group Wilberforce Project spoke in favour of the motion and urged delegates to adopt it.
Kenney said the resolution was put forward by a delegate whose child was vaccinated without his knowledge.
“The resolution spoke to a general concern about parents wanting to be involved in their children’s health, particularly for young children,” he said.
“Obviously we support the idea that children should receive vaccines that are necessary to protect their health, but parents should not be surprised when they learn their child has been given a shot.”
Premier Rachel Notley and Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said the resolution was aimed at interfering in abortions.
Notley said the resolution, along with the refusal of Kenney’s caucus to debate or vote on a bill that would create safe zones around abortion clinics, exhibits a disturbing pattern.
“You put those two things together, the fact of the matter is women in Alberta would not have anybody standing up for them in the UCP caucus,” Notley said.
“I want all women to know in this province that we respect their bodily autonomy, that we respect their right to access legal services without having to get someone to sign a permission slip,” added Hoffman.
Kenney, a former federal Conservative cabinet minister, has said in the past what while he is against abortion, he won’t legislate on the issue.
The resolution was one of two contentious social policies adopted by party members at the convention.
Members also voted 57 per cent in favour of parents being told when their children are involved in any subject of a religious or sexual nature, including after-school social clubs such as gay-straight alliances.
The issue sparked heated debate on the convention floor.