A voting place sign is seen in Vernon for the municipal election, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018.

(HOWARD ALEXANDER / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA - In case you missed it, abortion has re-emerged as a topic of conversation this election cycle.

It's likely because of the ongoing political debate south of the border, which moved into Kelowna when rallies and protests rolled out. It became a hot topic in Penticton, Kamloops and the North Okanagan with the controversy surrounding screenings of an anti-abortion movie.

And ahead of the October federal election, the focus has turned to the candidates.

Anti-abortion group, Right Now, has said it is working to deliver 50 federal ridings to candidates it believes side with them on the issue.

Pro-choice group, Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights launched a campaign called The Personal is STILL Political. It asks voters to find out where candidates stand on everything from barriers to abortion access to sex education in schools.

Answers to these questions and more have been spoken about in various ways by party leaders so we turned to our local candidates to see where they stood.

QUESTION: Abortion access and reproductive rights have been threatened in many U.S. States and, despite being treated as a medical issue in this country since 1988, many Canadians seek are asking if that’s how it will remain. What is your personal opinion on this issue, and how do you expect your party will address this issue over the next term?

Dan Albas, Conservative

Throughout the many doors I have been knocking on so far this election I have yet to hear this issue come up.

When I first ran for the Conservative Party in 2011 the former Conservative party leader was clear that our party would not re-open this topic. That commitment was honoured through the 2011-2015 Conservative majority government. Andrew Scheer has made the same commitment that a Conservative government will not re-open this topic if elected.

Robert Mellalieu, Green

The Green Party of Canada and I will uphold a women’s right to choose.

However, I abhor abortion.

We must do more.  Many women, while they have the right, they do not have the opportunity.  To ensure women genuinely have the opportunity to exercise their rights, we must do much more to prevent, educate and support.

This includes:

• Sex Education K-12, Tested
• Free Contraception
• Total health care and support form conception to age 2
• Streamlined adoption systems
• Increased parental leave
• Laws to ensure the having a child is not a detriment to one’s career
• Information Campaign to reduce the stigma of unwed parenting

Then women will have the right and the choice.

Mary Ann Murphy, Liberal

I am proud to be a lifelong, pro-choice advocate. Decisions on reproduction are deeply personal for every female at any age; accordingly, a woman's right to choose is a fundamental pillar of personal autonomy. I will advocate to protect this freedom, and ensure that the right to choose is preserved in Canada.

The Liberal Party of Canada has stood to defend women's choices with respect to reproduction. This has been a long-standing policy commitment, and we will continue to support these rights.

Joan Phillip, NDP

New Democrats and myself are committed to a Canada where women can thrive. That’s why we’re going to:

• Defend the right to choose and improve access to abortion services. 
• Make affordable child care available to all families so no one has to choose between a job and a family
• Develop a National Action Plan to end sexual gender based violence and improve access to shelters.

Allan Duncan of the People's Party and Brynn Jones, Marijuana did not respond.

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