“It is astonishing that the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Michael Ignatieff, has issued an official statement advocating contraception and abortion as fundamental elements in addressing this important issue,” said Collins, head of Canada’s largest diocese. “There are many fruitful ways to improve maternal and child health, and the discussion should centre on the most effective strategies for doing this.”

Collins said it was sad to see Ignatieff make such a negative proposal “when there are so many other steps that can be taken to promote maternal and child health throughout the world.” He said Ignatieff's call for Canada to fund overseas abortions “in no way serves to improve the health of mothers or children” but only serves to “imperil the most vulnerable among us.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in late January that, as president of the G8, Canada would lead an international initiative to improve the health of mothers and children in the world’s poorest countries. Ignatieff declared his party would only support the important initiative if Harper's measures included abortion and birth control measures for women, taking a position that the National Post called “the most audacious stance in favour of the practice of abortion ever to come from a Liberal leader.”

Collins said he was waiting with “keen interest” to see what “tangible measures the Prime Minister will propose.” The Archbishop cited provision of clean water, food and immunization as three basic measures that can be taken in poor nations to achieve improved health.

“Even those who think that abortion should be allowed do not, however, propose it as a positive contribution to the good of society,” Collins said.