Reality Check: UCP leadership contest takes another hard right turn

For immediate release

September 11, 2017

EDMONTON – UCP leadership candidate and former Wildrose Leader Paul Hinman launched his leadership campaign by calling for a hard right turn to social conservativism.

In recorded phone calls to UCP members on the weekend, Hinman pledged that he would stand up for social conservative values[1] and called on his website for the defense of “conscience rights,”[2] a term often used as a dog whistle to mean restricting access to contraception, abortion and medical assistance in dying. 

On abortion, Hinman called for a referendum to limiting funding for abortion as recently as last year.[3] A position promoted by UCP caucus leader Nathan Cooper held the same position on defunding abortion services as recently as 2009.[4]

On GSAs, Hinman shares Jason Kenney’s position on outing kids who join the school clubs.[5]

As an MLA, Hinman fought same-sex marriage, stating that marriage commissioners faced “religious persecution”[6] for performing these marriages.

The UCP caucus must clarify whether they share or will condemn the extreme views of their newest leadership candidate.

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[1] Twitter, September 10 2017. https://twitter.com/mrskellyw/status/906997376287567872

[2] Paul Hinman, September 11 2017. https://paulhinman.ca/

[3] Medicine Hat News, June 16 2016. https://www.pressreader.com/canada/medicine-hat-news/20160616/281487865634248

[4] NDP Caucus release, July 26 2017. https://albertandpcaucus.ca/news-events/post/ucp-leader-must-clarify-extreme-comments-on-abortion

[5] Paul Hinman, September 11 2017. https://paulhinman.ca/let-parents-not-bureaucrats-be-in-charge-of-their-childrens-education/

[6] Hansard May 1 2006, 1165. http://www.assembly.ab.ca/Documents/isysquery/d6f58b29-475a-4798-b511-cd9fe2ae874e/2/doc/