-810x500.jpg)
OTTAWA, Ontario, November 16, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Another formerly-staunch pro-life and pro-family politician in Canada is now reportedly saying he has “evolved” on the issues of abortion and homosexual ‘marriage.’
With his previous long-standing track record of voting pro-life — even being co-chair of the parliamentary pro-life caucus — and supporting traditional male/female marriage, United Conservative Party (UCP) Leader Jason Kenney drew the ire of a pro-LGBT lawyer on Twitter earlier this week.
Kyle Morrow tweeted Nov. 12: “Jason Kenney (@jkenney) wants to block gay adoption, defund abortion and invoke the notwithstanding clause [to stop homosexual ‘marriage’].”
Attached to that tweet was an audio recording on an introduction Kenney had made of another politician whom he praised as someone “who fought with me to end taxpayer-funded abortions” and to “prevent gay adoption.”
That tweet generated 581 likes and was retweeted 615 times by Friday morning.
The Star, a large daily newspaper in Toronto, picked up on the tweet, and contacted the United Conservative Party. The newspaper was reportedly told in a statement Kenney's stand on those issues has changed in the almost two decades since that recording was made.
“At the time, Jason’s view was no different than that of the Alberta government of the day,” the statement reportedly said.
“Nearly two decades have passed since this audio was recorded and, in that time, the views of Canadians have evolved dramatically, as have Jason’s.”
The UCP did not respond to a media request for comment on this story by LifeSiteNews.
Kenney's shifting attitudes and wooing of LGBT activists, though, are already well-known. Earlier this year, the UCP leader hosted his own gay Pride event, telling homosexual activists; “We’re free to love as we choose to love, we are free to live our own lives, and I think, at it’s best, that’s what Pride seeks to celebrate.”
People in the pro-life movement are dismayed to see a formerly strong politician on life and family issues betray his base.
“It’s very disappointing,” said Jeff Gunnarson, National President of Campaign Life Coalition, in an interview. “Jason Kenney and the pro-life movement have a long history. He was part of the pro-life caucus at one time. He used to be known as a faithful Catholic, a church-going Catholic who strived for the things of God. Now he’s abandoned fundamental moral tenets of the Christian faith.”
According to the pro-life leader, Kenney is also shooting himself in the foot by distancing himself from the UCP’s socially-conservative base of support.
“He's trying to play both sides of the political spectrum, the right and the left, but by saying his position has 'evolved,' he's hurting his party. Many social conservatives will be disgusted by Kenney’s abandonment of principles and will stay home on election day,” said Gunnarson.
“Unless there is a significant walk-back of his seeming embrace of the culture of death, he has just lost a significant portion of the pro-life vote,” he said. “He’s just given Notley some fresh hope.”
“Even fiscal conservatives cannot be filled with confidence, watching Kenney jettison his former guiding principles. If one can throw away moral principles today, how easily might other small-c conservative principles ‘evolve’ tomorrow, given enough time and leftist pressure?”
Gunnarson said Kenney would be wrong to avoid taking a strong pro-life position out of fear of a backlash at the polls.
“He's mistaken, he and many others like former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown and Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer,” said Gunnarson. “They think that being pro-life somehow hampers their chances of gaining power.”
“They're misguided by leftist advisors who have a biased view of the world, and by the liberal media, into thinking the pro-life movement is like an anchor holding you down, whereas the reality is that appealing to socons brings new energy, volunteers and donors in. Just look at the electoral success Donald Trump and Doug Ford have had by appealing to pro-lifers with concrete policies,” he said.
“Pro-lifers need to hold their politicians accountable when they turn their backs and adopt a pro-abortion stance,” said Gunnarson.
RELATED STORIES:
Jason Kenney turns back on grassroots over parental rights
Jason Kenney slides left, hosts Pride event: ‘We’re free to love as we choose to love’
Alberta’s new conservative party to host pro-LGBT pancake breakfast, Jason Kenney to attend