Tories to vote on dropping same sex marriage ban from policy

VANCOUVER — The Conservatives are a “big tent” party that can weather any divisions created by a vote Saturday on dropping parts of the policy that oppose same sex marriage, says one Tory MP.
The late-afternoon vote will be the culimination of 2 1/2 days of introspection and intense debate among Conservatives at a policy convention that was aimed at healing some of the wounds festering since last fall’s election defeat but also to chart a course ahead.
“We’ve had some difficult discussions, we’ve had some frustrations with the campaign,” said MP Erin O’Toole.
“But that’s how we become stronger as a party.”
The need for party unity on the road to the 2019 election has been a key theme among delegates to the convention but fissures in that front began emerging Friday during the heated debate over whether to strike language from the party’s policy defining traditional marriage as being between one man and one women.
Social conservatives are furious the proposal made it to the convention at all, and one, MP Brad Trost, has already said any leadership candidates who support it will lose his vote.
But O’Toole said he doesn’t think that means social conservatives will start deserting the party altogether.
“We’re a big tent,” he said.
“I don’t think we’re going to lose anyone. I don’t think a Canadian expects to get 100 per cent of their views in their political party.
The party’s policy handbook isn’t binding on the elected leadership but is often used as the foundation of political platforms.
Delegates will also be voting on some changes to their party’s constitution.
Five proposals came out of those workshops, including one that would add that a “belief in the value and dignity of all human life” into the party’s statement of principles.