Despite the fact that it is toast. I'll spare you the creepy (is there any other kind?) photo of Soudas accompanying the article and quote:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will vote against a private member’s bill promoted by one of his own MPs that would add new Criminal Code penalties for those who coerce women to have an abortion.
A senior government official also says that while the prime minister will not “whip” or demand Conservative MPs vote as he votes, it will be “very strongly recommended” that Conservatives vote to defeat the bill.
Meanwhile, Mr. Harper’s communications director, Dimitri Soudas, says that recommendation is consistent with Harper’s position since 2002 on any bill dealing with abortion: He and his government will neither introduce nor support any such legislation.
“The government’s not going to initiate or support legislation on abortion,” Mr. Soudas said.
And despite the fact that the criteria for votable and non-votable items are pretty darn basic. (Scroll down at the link for details.)
