84 Federal Candidates Given “Green Light” by Canadian Anti-Abortion Group

Canadian Anti-Hate Network

Source: Stefko/iStock

In the run-up to the April 28 federal election, Canadians are considering candidates as their potential representatives for the next term of Parliament. 

While much of the media’s focus is on Liberal Party leader Mark Carney and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, we are taking a look into the candidates, their voting records, and the policies they have publicly supported. 

All of the four major parties—the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC), the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), the New Democratic Party, and the Bloc Québécois—have standing policies to keep access to abortion freely available in the country. 

Opposed to this fact is an ecosystem of anti-abortion activists and lobbyists who want to abolish abortion and deny people medical care and reproductive rights. 

One of the largest abortion abolition groups, Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), releases lists every election cycle of candidates it deems “supportable.”  This designation is determined by candidates' public statements, voting records, and responses to a questionnaire distributed by the organization. 

Previous responses to the survey are considered, some of which date back to 2011. Others are more recent.

Based on these factors, CLC gave a “greenlight” to 84 candidates for federal office. The list includes 50 candidates from the Conservative Party of Canada, 24 from the People's Party of Canada (PPC), seven from the Christian Heritage Party, two from the United Party of Canada, and one from the Libertarian Party.

Not all candidates have responded to the CLC survey, but of those who did, 29 federal candidates responded “no” to the question of “Are there any circumstances under which you believe a woman should have access to abortion?” 

Some versions of the survey from previous years include in the question a caveat that “Medical treatments to save the life of a mother and which result in the UNINTENDED death of her unborn child, are NOT abortions. Eg. in case of tubal pregnancy or cervical cancer.”  

Even with the clarification, this would mean that medical procedures that have the intention of terminating a pregnancy would not be protected, nor would abortions for people who were the victims of rape and incest.

These 29 candidates include nine incumbents such as CPC candidate Damien Kurek, the incumbent for Battle River - Crowfoot, Alberta and Ted Falk, CPC incumbent for Provencher, Manitoba. (A complete list will appear at the bottom of the article.) 

Also among the candidates that answered “no” to the question of whether there are circumstances in which a woman should have access to an abortion is Conservative Party candidate Cathay Wagantall, incumbent for Yorkton - Melville, Saskatchewan.  First elected in 2015,  Wagantall introduced Bill C-225 which would have amended the Criminal Code to create separate offences for injuring or killing a fetus when an offence is committed against a pregnant woman.  The bill was criticized by abortion rights organizations, including the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC), who said that by establishing new “fetal rights,” the bill would “pose a threat to women’s constitutional rights and to abortion rights.”

The bill was defeated in its second reading. 

In 2020 and 2023, Wagantall put forward Bills C-233 and C-311, respectively. Both bills were criticized by the ARCC as potentially infringing on reproductive rights and setting dangerous precedents regarding abortion access.  Neither were passed into law.

CPC candidate Leslyn Lewis, incumbent for Haldimand—Norfolk, has been outspoken about her anti-abortion stance. She did not respond to the CLC’s survey on abortion but did receive a green light for her candidacy.  She ran twice for the leadership of the Federal Conservative Party. 

Running her leadership campaigns as an open social conservative has often resulted in Lewis being sidelined by the party as a response.  Nonetheless, she came in third in the 2020 and 2022 CPC leadership races.  

Lewis did not respond to a request for comment from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network by time of publication. 

During her 2020 run, Lewis proposed policies that would include a ban on sex-selective abortion, protections against “coerced abortions,” support for pregnancy centres offering alternatives to abortion, and stopping foreign aid to groups that offer abortions.

Lewis also promised to repeal Bill C-16 which added discrimination against gender expression and gender identity to the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act. She justified this stance by telling Maclean’s that she was worried that people could be penalized for “incorrect speech.”

Another anti-abortion incumbent is CPC candidate Lianne Rood, for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Ontario. Rood responded to the questionnaire in 2018, giving what the CLC referred to as “perfect answers” to their questions.  Rood was the recipient of media attention after she made a video decrying biodegradable Tim Horton’s coffee lids as “woke.” 

Rood did not respond to a request for comment from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network that included asking for a definition of the term. 

There are several members of the LPC who previously identified as “pro-life” prior to 2013.  When Justin Trudeau assumed the leadership in 2013, supporting access to abortion became a requirement of running for the Liberals the following year.  The Liberal Party MPs that had previously identified as “pro-life” include MPs Filomena Tassi, John McKay, and Kevin Lamoureux, all of whom reportedly agreed to vote against any policy that would seek to regulate abortion.  McKay and Tassi are not seeking reelection in 2025, while Lamoureux is campaigning for Winnipeg North.  

CAHN attempted to reach all candidates included on the CLC’s list of approved federal candidates. The responses that were received are included in the complete list below:

Candidates who, according to the CLC, answered no the question of “Are there any circumstances under which you believe a woman should have access to abortion?” are highlighted in bold.

1. Cheryl Gallant, Algonquin - Renfrew - Pembroke, Conservative Party of Canada (incumbent)
   
   
2. Carlos Suarez Rubio, Abbotsford - South Langley, People's Party of Canada
   
   
3. Damien Kurek, Battle River - Crowfoot, Conservative Party of Canada (incumbent)
   
   
4. Jonathan Bridges, Battle River - Crowfoot, People's Party of Canada
   
   
5. Rosemarie Falk, Battlefords - Lloydminster - Meadow Lake, Conservative Party of Canada (incumbent)
   
   
6. Ann Gillies, Bruce - Grey - Owen Sound, United Party of Canada
   
   
7. Charles Zach, Burlington North - Milton West, People's Party of Canada — “I reaffirm - that I am pro-life. Abortion at any stage of an unborn babies gestation is murder, genocide and amoral. Abortion is a curse on our nation and our country is weaker for it. Abortion is not health care. Abortion is not an exclusive woman’s issue. No one has the right to arbitrarily murder another human - especially a hapless human baby still in the mother’s womb that has been unjustly stripped of its Constitutional and God given inalienable human right to live and dehumanized to justify the sin.”
   
   
8. Tom Kmiec, Calgary Shepard, Conservative Party of Canada (incumbent)
   
   
9. Todd Doherty, Cariboo - Prince George Conservative (incumbent)
   
   
10. Kelly Block, Carlton Trail - Eagle Creek, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
11. Mark Strahl, Chilliwack - Hope, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
12. Tamara Jansen, Cloverdale - Langley City, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
13. Michelle Lindsay, Dartmouth - Cole Harbour, People's Party of Canada — “ There are circumstances where a medical procedure to end the pregnancy  may be required.”
    
    
14. Joe Tay, Don Valley North, Conservative
    
    
15. David John Bohonos, Edmonton Centre, Christian Heritage — “I am against the hate that is directed against pregnant women and their babies, they need much more love, care, support, assistance, guidance and reassurance to choose well, to choose life. I am also against the hate directed toward vulnerable people exemplified by the alarming increasing execution of M.A.I.D.:
    
    
16. Brent Kinzel, Edmonton West, People's Party of Canada — “Every human being, male and female, has equal rights from the moment of conception until natural death. Life is a fundamental right that should be protected at all stages, regardless of circumstances. Termination of life due to inconvenience or as means of birth control disregard the inherent dignity and worth of the unborn . Each life, no matter how small or vulnerable has value and potential. Society should promote compassionate alternatives, such as adoption and support for mothers with difficult situations, rather than normalizing the destruction of innocent life. There is no abortion law that truly uphold the rights of both the mother and a child and there should be policies in place that affirm the protection of life at all stages.”
    
    
17. Andrew Lawton, Elgin - St. Thomas - London South, Conservative
    
    
18. Andy D'Andrea, Etobicoke North, People's Party of Canada
    
    
19. Dan Muys, Flamborough - Glanbrook - Brant North, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
20. Rob Moore, Fundy Royal, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
21. Christopher Warkentin, Grande Prairie, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
22. Leslyn Lewis, Haldimand - Norfolk, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
23. Jim Enos, Hamilton West - Ancaster - Dundas, Christian Heritage
    
    
24. Ben Lobb, Huron - Bruce, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
25. Greg Kung, Kanata, Conservative
    
    
26. Doug Treleavin, Kitchener - Conestoga, Conservative
    
    
27. Kevin Dupuis, Kitchener - Conestoga, People's Party of Canada
    
    
28. Ruth Fontaine, La Prairie - Atateken, People's Party of Canada
    
    
29. Shannon Stubbs, Lakeland, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
30. Tako van Popta, Langley Township - Fraser Heights, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
31. Michael Lake, Leduc - Wetaskiwin, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
32. Michael Barrett, Leeds - Grenville - Thousand Islands - Rideau Lakes, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
33. Rachael Thomas, Lethbridge, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
34. Stephen Gallant, London Centre, Conservative
    
    
35. Adam Benni, London West, Conservative
    
    
36. Jacques Boudreau, London West, Libertarian
    
    
37. Lionel Loganathan, Markham - Thornhill, Conservative
    
    
38. Glen Motz, Medicine Hat - Cardston - Warner, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
39. Lianne Rood, Middlesex - London, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
40. Cynthia Ann Workman, Middlesex - London, People's Party of Canada — “I identify as Pro-Life.”
    
    
41. Walter Hofman, Milton East - Halton Hills South, People's Party of Canada
    
    
42. Chey Craik, Moose Jaw - Lake Centre - Lanigan, People's Party of Canada
    
    
43. Peter Taras, Niagara South, People's Party of Canada
    
    
44. Dean Allison, Niagara West, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
45. Aaron Gunn, North Island - Powell River, Conservative
    
    
46. Paul Macknight, North Island - Powell River, People's Party of Canada
    
    
47. Philip Lawrence, Northumberland - Clarke, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
48. Henry Karabela, Oakville East, People's Party of Canada
    
    
49. Thomas Androvic, Oshawa, People's Party of Canada
    
    
50. Marie-Chantal Leriche, Ottawa Centre, Christian Heritage
    
    
51. Alex Perrier, Ottawa South, Christian Heritage
    
    
52. Glen Armstrong, Ottawa West - Nepean, People’s Party of Canada
    
    
53. Sean Mulligan, Ottawa West - Nepean, Christian Heritage
    
    
54. Dane Lloyd, Parkland, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
55. Jason Lavigne, Parkland, People's Party of Canada — “I do describe myself as pro-life, as I believe in the intrinsic value of unborn life. However, the suggestion that I oppose any medical procedure under all circumstances is inaccurate. In rare but tragic situations, such as when the mother’s life is at serious risk, when the viability of the baby is no longer possible, or in cases of natural pregnancy loss like stillbirth or miscarriage, I support ensuring the mother receives the necessary care.”
    
    
56. Kevin Schulthies, Parkland, Christian Heritage
    
    
57. Arnold Viersen, Peace River - Westlock, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
58. Wayne Baker, Perth - Wellington, People's Party of Canada
    
    
59. Marc Dalton, Pitt Meadows - Maple Ridge, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
60. Blaine Calkins, Ponoka - Didsbury, Conservative (incumbent)
    
    
61. Grant Abraham, Ponoka - Didsbury, United Party of Canada
    
    
62. Deborah Perrier, Prescott - Russell - Cumberland, People’s Party of Canada — “I believe that every life is a sacred gift from God, from conception, to natural death, regardless of the circumstances of conception, and deserving of protection ~  As a Christian, I stand firmly for pro-life policies that defend the unborn and support adoption as a loving, compassionate, life-affirming alternative choice.  I would love to see every abortion clinic closed down, and in their place, adoption clinics with pre and peri-natal supports for the mothers.  My faith teaches that all human life is created in the image of God and must be cherished and protected and I am fiercely committed to pro-life policies that uphold the dignity of both mother and child.
    
    “I strongly believe the ONLY time the medical procedure of aborting a child should be allowed, is in the event of an ectopic pregnancy, which usually happens between the 4th and 12th weeks of pregnancy.  Other than that... absolutely not.”
    
    
63. Bob Zimmer, Prince George - Peace River - Northern Rockies, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
64. Ted Falk, Provencher, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
65. Noel Gautron, Provencher, People's Party of Canada 
    
    
66. Burton Bailey, Red Deer, Conservative
    
    
67. Michael Kram, Regina - Wascana, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
68. Vincent Ho, Richmond Hill South, Conservative
    
    
69. John Williamson, Saint John - St. Croix, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
70. Manon Chevalier, Saint-Laurent, People's Party of Canada
    
    
71. James Bezan, Selkirk - Interlake - Eastman, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
72. Byron Gryba, Selkirk - Interlake - Eastman, People's Party of Canada — “Given that Canada is one of only a handful of nations for which abortions are permitted until the moment of birth, I believe there should be ‘a’ law rather than no law.  Saving more life is better than saving less lives.  Saving the mother's life (by termination the baby) is a necessary protection for allowance of abortion.”
    
    
73. Garnett Genuis, Sherwood Park - Fort Saskatchewan, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
74. Jay Sobel, Sherwood Park - Fort Saskatchewan, People's Party of Canada
    
    
75. Michael Cooper, St. Albert - Sturgeon River, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
76. Jeff Willerton, St. Albert - Sturgeon River, Christian Heritage
    
    
77. Jeremy Patzer, Swift Current - Grasslands - Kindersley, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
78. Richard Bragdon, Tobique - Mactaquac, Conservative (Incumbent)
    
    
79. Lita Cabal, Vancouver East, Conservative — “I still stand on these positions as I believe in the sanctity of life and value of the life itself, based on my values both cultural and spiritual.”
    
    
80. Scott Anderson, Vernon - Lake Country - Monashee, Conservative
    
    
81. David Mohr, Victoria, People's Party of Canada — “I am pro-life. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I vote in line with their beliefs when allowed to vote my conscience.”
    
    
82. Steve Yamada, Whitby, Conservative
    
    
83. Jacob Mantle, York - Durham, Conservative
    
    
84. Cathay Wagantall , Yorkton - Melville, Conservative (Incumbent)

CAHN attempted to contact all the candidates and incumbents listed above.