In the 2025 federal campaign, which was dominated by how Canada would deal with the second presidency of Donald Trump in the United States, social issues understandably took a backseat. Still, just a fortnight before Election Day, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre “guaranteed” that there would be “no laws or other restrictions imposed on a woman’s right to decide to do with her body as she wishes.”

Party platforms and statements from various Liberal Party and New Democratic Party leaders have consistently vowed not to revisit discussions about abortion. This is in stark contrast to the situation in the United States, where a court ruling failed to galvanize voters to back the Democrats.

The perceptions of Canadians on this topic have not swayed wildly for some time. Across the country, 49 per cent of Canadians told us earlier this month that abortion should be legal under any circumstances, up three points since our previous survey in August 2024.

More than a third of Canadians (37 per cent, up two points) believe abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances, while eight per cent (up one........

© BIV