FREDERICTON _ An estimated 300 abortion protesters took over the front lawn of the New Brunswick legislature Wednesday.

Led by Peter Ryan, executive director of New Brunswick Right to Life, and former Conservative MP Elsie Wayne, the protesters urged the province to stop funding abortions.

``The province should not support abortions in any way shape or form,'' Wayne said. ``What they have to do is support the people out there that will adopt the baby, or take care of the baby, and the sooner that happens the better.''

Protesters said the province could help solve its population decline by reducing the number of abortions.

``The government is committed to all kinds of initiatives to promote immigration, but our underlying population problem has a lot to do with our very low birthrate,'' said Ryan.

``We think there are various positive things that can be done to boost the birthrate and a big one is providing more help to pregnant women so every woman who is in difficulty knows where to go for help.''

Ryan said there are five ways the province can address his group's concerns: expanding pregnancy support services; continuing not to fund abortion clinics; introducing legislation to prevent coerced abortions; providing a bonus for families with more than two kids; and distributing brochures that track the growth of fetuses to school-aged children.

``These things could really counteract the tendency of people to choose abortion out of desperation, fear, ignorance and so on,'' he said.

``There is a misconception that people have abortions because they want to. But most women don't really want to have abortions. They just don't have the help when they need it and that's where we think the province could step up.''

Six members of the legislature attended the protest.

``I think there is a good amount of sympathy and interest on the part of politicians,'' Ryan said. ``There is a real openness to some initiatives.''

(Fredericton Gleaner)