Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

Anti-abortion petition tabled in legislature

EDMONTON — More than 5,000 Albertans are asking the Alberta government to stop using tax dollars to fund abortions.

They made their request through a petition currently being tabled in the Alberta legislature.

The petition, with 5,100 names on it, was to be tabled by Red Deer North MLA Mary-Anne Jablonski May 30.

Spearheaded by Marshall Deslauriers and Joana Prysko, both members of Annunciation Parish, the petition urges the legislature to stop using tax money to fund abortions. It also urges legislators to ask voters whether they favour the practice.

The petition was circulated throughout Alberta for six weeks, until the beginning of March, and was signed by voters from 145 Alberta towns, villages and hamlets.

Although Deslauriers and Prysko were originally aiming for 50,000 signatures, they are not disappointed.

"It may not be a large number of names, but it's a very good representation of Alberta," Deslauriers said.

"From Bonnyville to Jasper to Lethbridge, Fort McMurray, Olds, Thorhild, Lake Isle, St. Vincent, Camrose and Devon and Duffield this petition became a crusade to stop abortion funding."

Once tabled, the petition will be published in the government Hansard and will become an official part of government business, Deslauriers said.

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