Excuse me, Canada, but what?

The Conservative government has offered an explanation for why it will exclude contraception from its initiative to improve the health of mothers in poor countries: Birth control doesn't fit with saving lives.

In no uncertain terms, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon yesterday ruled out any kind of family-planning programs being included in Canada's "signature" initiative at June's G8 summit - a strategy to improve the health of mothers and young children in poor countries.

"It does not deal in any way, shape or form with family planning. Indeed, the purpose of this is to be able to save lives," Mr. Cannon told the Foreign Affairs committee.

Birth control—family planning services—saves lives. If Canada's conservative government gave a shit about the lives and health of poor women and mothers, and not scoring points with bathshit conservatives, it would advocate for birth control and family planning programs. Christ.