Canada offers abortion to U.S. women

Karina Gould said Tuesday that American women will be able to obtain abortions in Canada if the United States Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade and states restrict access, CBC reports: "I don't see why we would not. If they, people, come here and need access, certainly, you know, that's a service that would be provided."

That’s why this momentous leak from the U.S. Supreme Court rattled all the way across the Canadian border this week, too, especially around the political streets and corridors of Ottawa. There’s just been a little too much of Trump-inspired disruption coursing through Canadian politics recently. It remains reasonable to ask how much of that is finding a home in the current Conservative party, vulnerable as it apparently is to social conservatism and leadership aspirants who are getting giddy highs from trashing Canadian institutions like, say, the Bank of Canada or government “gatekeepers.”

Battles ahead: In the Globe, Elizabeth Renzetti laments the American decision, and warns that Canadians should not be complacent.

In Canada, our access to abortion has not faced the same political pressure as in the United States. That does not mean we should take our eye off the ball. As we learned from the United States, the foes of reproductive health are ready for a long campaign, and there are politicians at the federal and provincial levels who support rolling back reproductive rights, and will try to seize opportune moments to achieve this. If the issue is important to you, grill your local candidates and party leaders about where they stand. We also need to expand access to surgical and medical abortions in Canada, because services are not provided equally across the country.

Fording on: Doug Ford will call a June 2 election today, and so far it looks pretty good for him, according to a Nanos poll for CTV. The poll gives Ford a seven-point lead with 36.9 per cent while the Liberals trail with 30.4, The NDP are third with 23.7 per cent. Philippe J. Fournier's tracking gives Ford a 96 per cent chance of winning the most seats.

Elections are contested between flawed human beings, not platonic ideals. Neither (Steven) Del Duca, who was never a particularly impressive minister, nor (Andrea) Horwath, who has led the NDP for 13 years and could only parlay the Liberals’ epic unpopularity in 2018 into official opposition status, seem poised to grab people’s attention and run with it. By the same token, neither party seems poised to collapse sufficiently and help the other defeat the Tories in key ridings.

Younger voters: MPs will debate an NDP motion today on whether to lower Canada’s legal voting age to 16, the Globe reports.

CPC raises more: Erin O'Toole's departure didn't hurt CPC fundraising at all, CP reports.

Elections Canada’s latest reports show the Conservatives took in more than $5 million from 31,512 donors during the period in which former leader Erin O’Toole was ousted amid a major caucus revolt.

Fun race: Tom Mulcair is having a good time watching the CPC leadership race, he writes in a lively column for CTV.

Poilievre is a gleeful arsonist throwing Molotov cocktails at heaps of dry ideas and can’t be bothered waiting around to see the result. While his adversaries try to reply to his last one, he’s moved on. Say what you will about Poilievre, he’s put together a campaign team that shows that he has the eye of a good manager. They’ve instilled discipline in his messaging that has remained short and punchy. He won’t give interviews. Why would he give them that chance? He’s the frontrunner. Poilievre is riding a large white horse made of "freedom," resentment and baloney. It’s a sight to see, but watch out for the droppings.

Jean Charest says that during the CPC race, nobody has asked him about a long-running corruption investigation, Le Journal de Montréal reports (translation).

Note to readers: There will be no Politics Insider on Thursday or Friday, as your correspondent will be in transit — Stephen Maher

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