In a 2009 video, Gordon Giesbrecht, now a Winnipeg South Conservative candidate, made comparisons between abortion, 9/11 and the Holocaust.

Published on a blog site listed under Saskatoon's Horizon College and Seminary, the two-minute video shows Giesbrecht saying: "Six million Jews were killed in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.… That's a staggering number, but get this: since abortion became legal in North America several decades ago, over 42 million unborn babies have been aborted."

"That's a 9/11 every day for the past 35 years," Giesbrecht said.

Mr. Giesbrecht has forgotten about the time of back-alley abortions. - Brianne Goertzen, Winnipeg South NDP candidate

NDP candidate Brianne Goertzen said the comparison is a "mark of [Giesbrecht's] insensitivity to [abortion] as well as those victims who experienced the Holocaust and 9/11."

Goertzen said she believes "Mr. Giesbrecht has forgotten about the time of back-alley abortions, and I don't think Canada is a nation that should be reverting back in time."

Winnipeg South Liberal candidate Terry Duguid said: "I think references to 9/11 and the Holocaust are most unfortunate." He added that the Liberals will protect a woman's right to choose.

Adam Smith, the Winnipeg South Green candidate, said he respects a woman's right to choose. He added that it's easy for men to weigh in on the abortion issue, but "I believe it is an issue that should be decided completely by women."

Giesbrecht's campaign said the candidate was unable to do an interview because he was knocking on doors, but did send the following email statement: "The prime minister has been clear, we will not reopen the [abortion] debate."

Other candidates weigh in on abortion

In addition to the video, the Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), a national pro-life advocacy group, said Giesbrecht filled out a questionnaire in which he agreed that abortions should not be legal under any circumstances where the life of the mother is not in immediate danger.

Giesbrecht also indicated on the CLC website that he would "support all legislative or policy proposals that would result in a meaningful increase of respect and protection for unborn human life," and stated he is opposed to doctor-assisted suicide.

Three other Manitoba Conservative candidates also indicated they were "pro-life" in the CLC survey:

Ted Falk (Provencher).

Jim Bell (Kildonan – St. Paul).

François Catellier (St. Boniface – St. Vital).

Bell and Catellier indicated they would "introduce and pass laws to protect unborn children from the time of conception (fertilization) onward."

CBC asked for comment from the candidates listed on the CLC website, but has not received responses.