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OTTAWA — Stephen Harper was clear that his Conservative Party would not reopen the abortion debate. But what about the next Conservative leader?

Pro-lifers may feel they were sold a bill of goods by Harper, who often talked like a social conservative without offering anything different from the Liberals when it came to legislation on the issues social conservatives cared most about.

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Harper’s Conservative Party, its leader said, was a big tent that welcomed different, even conflicting, views on issues like abortion. Yet when MPs Stephen Woodworth and Mark Warawa introduced motions related to abortion they felt the full force of the Prime Minister’s Office coming down on them.

Social conservatives are determined they won’t be fooled again and claim they will play an important role in the leadership race now unfolding slowly, and without fanfare, across the country.

Johanne Brownrigg, head of public affairs at Campaign Life Coalition, said her organization is waiting for more candidates to come forward before endorsing a leadership hopeful, but said anecdotal evidence suggests 30 to 40 per cent of the Conservative base is pro-life and highly motivated to vote for a candidate who opposes abortion.