Green Party dumps pro-life candidate

The Green Party has dropped one of its federal election candidates for her pro-life views.

Marthe Lépine,a candidate in the Ontario riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, was told Oct. 6 that she could not represent the Green Party in the Oct. 21 election because of social media posts on Catholic blogs that did not agree with party policies.

“The Green Party will always fight for access to timely, safe, legal abortions,” said Green Party Director of Communications John Chenery. “It recently came to light through social media posts that Ms. Lépine does not support this position so she has been removed as a candidate.”

Lépine, 77, a Catholic, told the Ottawa Citizen that she holds “pro-life” beliefs, but questioned why the party took so long to raise the issue of her beliefs, which she said includes improving the lives of women so they don’t choose to seek abortions.

She also suggested the party had not fully supported her campaign and their actions were “religious discrimination.”

Lépine’s name will remain on the ballot because the deadline for registering candidates has passed.

Party leader Elizabeth May said all Green Party candidates are required to support abortion rights.