New documents on cabinet discussions pertaining to abortion:

The minutes and background papers of the 17 cabinet meetings of 1988 in which abortion was raised were obtained by Canwest News Service under the Access to Information Act, which allows for their release only after 20 years have passed.

As well, the staunchest anti-abortion minister in the cabinet, Jake Epp, cited potential risks to the disabled and elderly if the abortion law was liberalized, while one unidentified minister “suggested that the government seriously consider ducking the issue.” …Mulroney said “he was personally impressed with the sanctity of life arguments, but would not attempt to impose his views on other Members.”

“Ducking the issue” as a strategy appears to have won the day. (Abortion? What’s that?)