Pro-Choice Movement to Harper as His Bus Rolls Into Brampton: We're Never Going Back!

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 29, 2011) - In the final countdown to Election day, spokespeople and representatives of Canada's pro-choice movement brought a message to Stephen Harper as his campaign bus arrived at the Pearson Convention Centre, Brampton earlier this evening.

Signs and banners reminded Canadians of Harper's dismal record on women's rights, abortion rights and maternal health.

Carolyn Egan of the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics (OCAC) and the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) said, "Stephen Harper's actions speak louder than his words. The Conservative Party has step by step tried to limited access to abortion."

This evening's initiative follows a media conference earlier in the week. Speakers from ARCC, OCAC, Women's College Hospital, the Morgentaler Clinics, the Immigrant Women's Health Centre, Planned Parenthood Toronto and the student movement enumerated some of their concerns, including:

• Harper's removal of abortion from Canada's maternal health initiatives, leaving women worldwide at risk of death and injury from unsafe abortions.

• The routine introduction of anti-abortion private members bills by the Conservative caucus, at least 68% of whom are against abortion.

• The Conservative government's continued inaction in enforcing the Canada Health Act in New Brunswick, where women are forced to pay out of pocket for clinic abortions.

• The loss of funding by International Planned Parenthood.