Here’s what B.C. politicians are saying about the U.S. Supreme Court’s draft abortion ruling

B.C. politicians are reacting to the leak of a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion indicating a majority of justices sought to overturn a landmark court decision that legalized abortion across the United States.

The leak has made international news and had many political leaders across Canada voicing their opinions on abortion legislation on Tuesday.

Here in British Columbia, members of the legislature largely reasserted their support for a woman’s right to choose. Here’s what some of them said:

B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson

“Any change to access to abortion will be over my dead body,” B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson told CHEK News political correspondent Rob Shaw. “This is a critical issue for all Canadians and British Columbians and I’m very proud of our government, and I believe everybody in this house stood to applause as Grace Lore read a two-minute statement about our commitment to making sure that women and people who are pregnant have access to abortion when they need it.”

Victoria MLA Grace Lore, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity

“Abortion is health care. It is a profoundly personal choice that should not be decided or influenced by anyone beyond the person who is pregnant. But in the words of the leaked draft, we see the echoes of the words and actions of people, usually men, around the world who today are trying to roll back the rights of women and the rights of people who are pregnant to make decisions about their own bodies.

Today, I think of the women and others who have fought for the right to choose and protected that right over many years, including women in this house, and I think of the countless women who have died when safe access was denied.

That is the devastating truth. Actions like this won’t stop abortions, they’ll just stop safe ones.”

BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon

“I’ve been very clear from the day I launched my leadership campaign when I first got asked about this issue. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting a woman’s right to choose, and our party position remains consistent in opposing any attempts to restrict or revoke the hard-fought rights that British Columbians have earned.”

“I don’t believe there’s a threat here in British Columbia about that fundamental principal that a woman has the right to make decisions around her own body without interference from government, whatever that choice may be. That’s her right, and that’s a hard-fought right, and that will not change.”

“It is very important to understand that as a party, and as a government, I’ve been very clear —  and we have been while we were in government too for 16 years, by the way — that we are not going to do anything that is going to take away or revoke the right that women have fought hard to earn.”

BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

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