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By Alison Auld, The Canadian Press

The Liberals in New Brunswick could face a tough internal debate if they win Monday's election and have to grapple with the question of access to abortion, says a political observer who warns the party could have trouble finding a unified voice on the divisive issue.

Geoff Martin, a political science professor at Mount Allison University, said Liberal Leader Brian Gallant has been ambiguous at best on whether he would repeal a regulation that restricts public funding of abortions in New Brunswick.

Martin says the strategy is not surprising for the front-runner, who is trying to appeal to liberal voters by indicating there may be a change in policy following a review, while not frightening off those who do not want to see access to abortion eased.

But Gallant's position risks causing divisions in party ranks, Martin said.

"I think this is going to be one of their significant challenges in the first six months to a year is stickhandling this issue because there's still a significant body of opinion that's not going to be all that happy," Martin, who ran for the provincial NDP in 2003, said from Sackville, N.B.

"It's an issue that's strong enough that you may see some Liberals bolt from caucus over it if there's a whipped vote."

Some Liberals who oppose abortion have insisted their leader won't impose his beliefs on them, but Gallant has said the party will adopt a policy similar to the federal Liberals' and promote a position "that respects a woman's right to choose."

Gallant has made it clear his party members would be expected to support access to abortion.

"We can't let personal beliefs get in the way," Gallant said when asked about abortion during a televised debate. "A Liberal government will act swiftly to find the barriers and eliminate them."

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Abortion a problem for New Brunswick Liberals