P.E.I. abortion rally brings both sides of the debate

About 350 peopleattended an abortion rally heldoutsideCharlottetown's Province House Saturday.

A new group, the PEI Reproductive RightsOrganizationannounced a few weeks ago that it was lobbying to re-introduce abortion services to the Island.

Even though it's a legal medical procedure, P.E.I. remains the only province where abortion services are not offered locally.

The government has said itisn't interested in re-opening the debate.

However on Friday, Health Minister Doug Currie said he'd be open to discussion with all sides. That's a change from Nov. 9, when Currie said abortion is another service thatisn't offered on P.E.I.

"The more services you add to a system, obviously there's going to be more costs attached to that," Currie said Nov. 9.

On Saturday, Green Party leader Sharon Labchuk told the crowd that government has money forfake hillsbut not abortions on P.E.I.

The opposition Conservatives said Friday they will follow the government on the issue.

Saturday was the first time the pro-choice movement was seen publicly demonstrating.

The CBC's Ryan Hicks said NDP leader James Rodd was also seen at the rally.

Hicks and the CBC's Brian Higginsestimated there were about150 pro-choice demonstratorsand200 anti-abortiondemonstrators.