Leader of Wildrose Party in Canada says she is pro-gay, pro-choice
Danielle Smith, leader of the Wildrose Party in Canada, has moved to quash rumours surrounding her social beliefs by confirming that she is in favour of marriage equality, and is pro-choice on abortion rights.
The Wildrose Alliance Party is a conservative provincial party in Alberta, which has been painted as “extremist” both in fiscal and social policies by political opponents — a description against which Ms Smith has fought back.
“When our members elected me they knew they were electing a candidate that was pro-choice and pro-gay marriage,” Ms Smith said on Tuesday during an all-candidates forum. “The only way we’re going to be able to become a mainstream, big-tent conservative party capable of forming government is to focus on the issues that matter to Albertans. If I am elected premier, a Wildrose government will not be legislating in areas of morality,” she added.
These statements might come as a great surprise to many of the party’s rivals, who generally describe the parties policies as socially regressive, directed to gratify the sensibilities of “white, middle-aged men.” One Tory spokesperson said of the party’s policies: “Ethnic minorities are targets. Gays and lesbians are targets. We’re the targets of those kinds of things.”
