Her support for tougher child pornography laws made her a controversial figure amongst other gay rights activists, who saw the legislation as dangerously ambiguous in its definitions and broad in scope.
[5] A Red Tory, she stood as a candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario on two occasions in the early 1990s, when she was known as Nancy Jackman.
The first was in the 1990 provincial election, when she lost to New Democratic Party candidate Zanana Akande by fewer than 1,000 votes in the riding of St. Andrew—St.
Intense public backlash caused the Prime Minister's Office to announce the issue had been dropped from consideration.
[8] Nancy Ruth sparked controversy on May 3, 2010, with comments she made during a meeting with women's equality rights groups on Parliament Hill.
"[9] The next day the Conservative government cut funding to 11 women's groups, some of which support abortion as part of the G8 maternal health initiative.
"[11] The comments drew criticism as evidence of senators feeling entitled to a certain lifestyle at public expense.