The Liberals were once called Canada’s Natural Governing Party for a reason.
For decades the Grits had positioned themselves as the reasonable centre between the Conservatives and the New Democrats.
The Grits were a party for the masses, a blend of just enough right and just enough left to satisfy the largest slice of the Canadian electorate available.
It is therefore perplexing to see Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau inexplicably wade into the emotional waters of abortion.
How to vote
First Trudeau announced that all future Liberal MPs would be expected to vote pro-choice should abortion-related issues make it to the floor of Parliament.
Then he expanded his demand, saying all of his MPs, including the current bunch, would never again be free to vote their conscience on one of the most divisive matters in society.
One wonders why Trudeau saw so much necessity in something so unnecessary, not to mention potentially damaging to his party.
He risks alienating so-called values voters who until now appreciated the Liberals’ basic neutrality on abortion.
For now the Liberals lead in the polls, but they have needlessly veered off the centre course that was so crucial to their past successes.
