Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff facing criticism for upcoming anti-abortion event

Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff is facing criticism for his participation in an upcoming event.

A poster for the event “Gen Z: Challenging abortion in politics” featuring Oosterhoff has been making the rounds on Twitter.

The event is being put on in collaboration with the National Campus Life Network, which describes itself as “Canada’s anti-abortion youth organization.”

Monday morning, the group’s Twitter account had: “Making abortions an ‘early priority’ is the same as Hitler who made it an early priority to kill the Jews” with a link to a news story as the pinned tweet.

It is no longer the pinned tweet but is still on the timeline.

Premier Doug Ford was asked about Oosterhoff’s affiliation with the group at his news conference on Monday.

Ford said he would be speaking with Oosterhoff tonight, saying nothing should be compared to the Holocaust.

When @rath_randy asked Premier Ford about Sam Oosterhoff’s affiliation with a group that is comparing abortion to the Holocaust Ford says: “Nothing should be compared to the Holocaust. I’ll be speaking with Sam tonight.” @CHCHNews

— Nicole Martin (@nicolemartintv) March 15, 2021

“While we respect everyone’s right to hold and express their own personal beliefs and views, nothing should ever be compared to the horrific acts committed during the Holocaust,” said Ivana Yelich, Premier Doug Ford’s director of media relations, in a statement to CHCH News.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath has also tweeted about the group.

Students face an unprecedented challenge and need a #OntEd Parliamentary Assistant to focus on them.
Instead, Sam Oosterhoff would rather support a group insulting the memory of millions of Jews murdered in the Holocaust & attack women’s right to choose.
He needs to step down.

— Andrea Horwath (@AndreaHorwath) March 15, 2021