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The Conservative MP for Edmonton-Spruce Grove surprised Andrea Mrozek, the founder of the blog ProWomanProLife, who had never before heard Ms. Ambrose speak out in favour of the anti-abortion movement.

I have repeatedly raised concerns about discrimination of girls by sex selection abortion

“I don’t have a sweet clue as to whether or not Ambrose is actually pro-life or not,” said Ms. Mrozek, who is also manager of research and communications at the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. “My defence of her is based on this notion of free speech and representing a diversity of views. I’d be pretty thrilled if she were, but I never thought she was and I still don’t.”

She said Ms. Ambrose’s vote shows that one can be both supportive of women’s rights and in favour of having a discussion about abortion — which is unregulated in Canada and legal at any time, for any reason — or even oppose abortion.

“There are many women, myself included, who do not see so-called abortion rights as part and parcel of women’s rights,” she said.

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Anti-abortion and pro-abortion perspectives have clashed in the current U.S. presidential election, spurring demonstrations and counter-demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., as well as protests against cuts to Planned Parenthood. Also at the DNC, however, were anti-abortion Democrats who support their party but not its staunch pro-choice stance. In Canada, pro-choicers have lately found themselves divided over sex-selective abortions, which the Canadian Medical Association Journal has warned are becoming more frequent as Canada receives more immigrants from eastern, patriarchal countries.