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Leadership race newcomer Rob Clarke said if he was premier he wouldn’t bring any legislation regarding abortion forward, despite telling a pro-life group earlier in the week that the possibility of placing provincial restrictions on abortion should be “looked at very carefully.”

He told that same group he would consider using the notwithstanding clause (which allows provinces to override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on matters the court has ruled violates certain rights) to do so.

Asked Thursday how invoking the notwithstanding clause would prevent people from leaving Saskatchewan to get abortions, Clarke said: “That will be their choice, you can’t prevent anyone from making their own choice.”

Scott Moe says he is “personally” pro-life but willing to govern more like Wall and only allow policy on abortion to move forward after a “fulsome debate in caucus.” He reiterated those points in a statement Thursday, but refused to speak with reporters.

Gord Wyant is saying the discussion on abortion is over, in large part because the Supreme Court has ruled on it and that decision has “finality.”

The two female candidates in the race — Tina Beaudry-Mellor and Alanna Koch — have stated they are pro-choice.

During his 10 years at the helm of the Sask. Party, Wall has been able to keep a lid on the large faction of anti-abortion caucus members. He’s done so by letting the issue rest and forbidding any of his caucus members from bringing abortion issues to the public.

The anti-abortion sentiment is now on full display, and is becoming a significant wedge issue in a leadership race that has largely been an exercise in candidates agreeing on big issues and differing little on others.

dfraser@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/dcfraser