Conservatives will be drawn into debates about abortion and assisted dying on the last day of the partyB次元官网网址檚 convention in Halifax on Saturday, thanks to proposed policy changes put forward by grassroots party members.
They will not, however, be voting on whether to kill CanadaB次元官网网址檚 system of supply management.
A series of breakout sessions was held on Friday, the second day of the three-day convention, to decide which policy resolutions would go to the full membership for a vote on Saturday.
One of the 74 resolutions debated aims to remove any reference to a future Conservative government regulating abortion.
Debate was extensive during FridayB次元官网网址檚 preliminary workshop, with a number of people arguing for and against the resolution as dozens more lined up outside the overcrowded room complaining they couldnB次元官网网址檛 get in to vote.
The resolution was brought to the floor by delegates from Newfoundland and Labrador, who said they want the party to be neutral on the topic of abortion. It ultimately passed with 82 per cent support, which means it will go to the full membership for a vote on Saturday.
Another resolution to have Conservative party oppose the extension of B次元官网网址渆uthanasia and assisted suicideB次元官网网址� to minors, people with mental illness or B次元官网网址減eople who are not competentB次元官网网址� also passed and will go to a wider vote.
But a resolution to have the party adopt a policy to end supply management of agricultural products did not make it to the floor for a vote, much to the chagrin of a group of delegates who tried several procedural tactics to force a vote on the issue.
Peter McCaffrey of Calgary had expressed fears earlier in the week that he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have an opportunity to vote on the resolution with Quebec MP Maxime Bernier gone from the party.
Bernier was a vocal critic of supply management and openly criticized the party and leader Andrew Scheer for supporting it before his dramatic resignation from the party Thursday.
McCaffrey expressed his frustration with how events unfolded on Friday.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e just been running out the clock the entire afternoon, going as slow as possible, so we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 get to a supply management vote,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚 want to vote for good policy but I feel like they are pushing us out of the party by not allowing us to have votes on these issues.B次元官网网址�
McCaffrey had previously said he didnB次元官网网址檛 want to follow Bernier out of the party, but after the supply management showdown he was less certain.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know what to do now. People are mad that they didnB次元官网网址檛 even get a chance to vote. People paid thousands of dollars to come here as delegates and vote on these issues and they were deliberately shut down from doing so because the party stalled,B次元官网网址� he said.
On Saturday, the party will convene for its final convention day to vote on the top 10 resolutions that passed during the three breakout sessions held Friday. If the proposals garner majority support, they will become party policy.
Teresa Wright and Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
