Premier Doug Ford scrambled to quell controversy over his government’s position on abortion after one of his MPPs told hundreds of protesters on the front lawn of the legislature Thursday that it’s time to make the termination of pregnancies “unthinkable.”

The premier, who had ducked opposition questions on whether the views of Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff reflect the position of the Progressive Conservative government, released a statement later in the day clarifying his administration’s stance.

“The Ontario PC Party is a big tent. We welcome members from a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs,” wrote the premier, who courted social conservatives to win the party leadership last year when he questioned why teens need parental consent notes to go on school trips but not to get abortions.

“The government will not re-open the abortion debate,” he added.

New Democrat MPP France Gelinas raised the issue during the legislature’s daily question period as the demonstrators could be heard chanting loudly outside.

“Women across Ontario have fought really hard for their reproductive rights. Conservative MPPs joined an anti-choice rally outside Queen’s Park just now and they told the protesters, ‘We pledged to fight to make abortion unthinkable in our lifetime.’ Does the premier support his MPPs?” asked Gelinas (Nickel Belt).

Ford declined to answer the question, surprising legislators by referring it to Energy Minister Greg Rickford, whose portfolio has nothing to do with medical matters.

“We’re focused on a health-care system that addresses the needs of every person who lives in Ontario. We’re concerned, for example, that a job-killing regressive carbon tax would compromise the resources of hospitals and medical clinics across this province,” Rickford said.

“We are protecting and investing in education, health care ... and making sure that the people of Ontario have access to the health services and programs they deserve.”

Opposition parties quickly raised concerns that abortion services covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan could be at risk as the government looks for cost savings in the fight to eliminate the provincial deficit.

“We know that Mr. Oosterhoff has radical opinions about choice and a woman’s right to choose. What concerns me is that the premier did not distance himself immediately from those views,” said New Democrat MPP Marit Stiles (Davenport).

“At the end of the day, the premier has the levers to be able to withhold women’s right to choose by limiting their access to health-care services. We’ve already seen massive cuts by this government.”

It’s the second time this week Oosterhoff has caused public relations trouble for the government, after his staff called Niagara Regional Police on seniors in a book club who went to his constituency office to protest provincial cuts to library funding.

Oosterhoff tried to get away from reporters and TV cameras in an elevator before briefly coming out to defend his speech to the anti-abortion protesters.

“To quote Dr. Seuss: “A person’s a person no matter how small.’ I’ve always said I’m pro-life. I will always speak for children who are too young to speak for themselves, who have no voice,” Oosterhoff said.

Progressive Conservative MPP Will Bouma (Brant) also spoke to the crowd.

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The controversy could have been avoided if Ford had just stated his position when asked by Gelinas, said Green Leader Mike Schreiner.

“I thought it was completely disrespectful to the people of Ontario, and especially women, for the premier not to clearly answer the question,” Schreiner said. “I’ll be very clear. I support a woman’s right to choose.”

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