Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) said it's pleased to see Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre become the next leader, despite the organization backing fellow candidate Leslyn Lewis. .“Tonight’s results prove yet again that socially conservative candidates such as Lewis, who fearlessly champion pro-life and pro-family values, continue to draw strong support from grassroots conservatives,” said CLC national president Jeff Gunnarson in a press release..Gunnarson called on Poilievre to respect the social conservative wing of the Conservatives by giving Lewis a prominent position in his shadow cabinet, preferably foreign affairs. .He went on to say the Conservatives need a foreign affairs shadow minister who can advocate for foreign aid for abortions to be eliminated. He added overseas funding for abortions is “ideological colonization at its worst.” .Gunnarson said he loves how Lewis fought for a Canada where “every single person, including those existing in their mothers’ wombs, are treated with true dignity and respect.”.CLC political operations director Jack Fonseca said he admires how Poilievre has pledged to defund the CBC and end COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Fonseca said he expects the Conservative leader “to fight against any attempt by the Trudeau Liberals to bring back vaccine passports or lockdowns.” .“It’s praiseworthy that Poilievre has promised to support pregnant women, providing them with resources to make choices other than abortion,” said Fonseca. .He said he appreciates how Poilievre promised to stand up for pregnancy care centres while Trudeau works to strip them of charitable status. He continued by saying social conservatives expect the new leader to follow through on his promises. .Gunnarson praised Lewis for running a campaign unafraid to speak about abortion..“By running a principled and unapologetically pro-life campaign, Lewis has moved the yardstick by leaps and bounds for what it means to be a pro-life politician here in Canada,” he said. .Poilievre was elected the next Conservative leader on Saturday, winning the leadership race on the first ballot with 68% of the vote..READ MORE: Poilievre wins Conservative leadership race on first ballot.Former Quebec premier Jean Charest was second with 16.1%, Lewis garnered 9.7%, former independent MPP Roman Baber had 5%, and Conservative MP Scott Aitchison had 1%. .“Tonight begins the journey to replace an old government that costs you more and gives you less and create a new government that respects your paycheque, your home, your retirement, your country," said Poilievre.
