News: Is abortion debate interfering with women’s health initiatives?

With the G-8 summit fast approaching, you might think that Canadians who champion women’s health issues are coming together to support Canada’s maternal health initiative. Alas, no.

This week, woman’s group Match International, is claiming that the Conservatives have cut funding to 11 women’s groups as an "ideological punishment" for those who support abortion funding in the maternal health initiative , reports The Canadian Press.  Last week the government announced that, under the G-8 initiative, the federal government will not fund women’s health programs that involve abortion.

With all  this bickering and supposed retaliating that’s going on because of this issue, can you really blame Senator Nancy Ruth for dropping F-bombs? The Conservative senator advised women’s groups to "shut the F-up" over the abortion issue at a meeting on Parliament Hill for women’s rights groups. Here’s what she said as reported by the CBC:

"If you push it, there’ll be more backlash. This is now a political football. This is not about women’s health in this country."

Gasp if you must over her choice of language (though I think it’s apt) but do you agree with her sentiment? Regardless of your opinion on abortion, do you think the issue is overshadowing the good that can be done as part of the G-8 initiative? Or should women’s groups keep on protesting the initiative’s lack of abortion funding?

Related:
‘ New: Government says contraception doesn’t save women’s lives–are they living int he past?
‘ News: Let’s (not) talk about sex
‘ News: Clinton calls Canada out over contraception issue