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Party Bans Strongly Pro-Family MP From Running Again as a Conservative

Decision said to set disturbing precedent of intolerance by the new Party

OTTAWA, February 4, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Conservative Party of Canada has refused to allow pro-family MP Larry Spencer into the Conservative Caucus. In an interview with a Vancouver Sun reporter known to have a pro-homosexual bias, Spencer was asked if he would support a theoretical attempt to re-criminalize homosexual acts. The MP responded in the affirmative, although he is not known to have spoken in favour of such legislation prior to that moment. The politically incorrect response to the loaded question was enough to see Spencer booted from the Canadian Alliance Party by Leader Stephen Harper. Later Harper said that Spencer could apply for entry into the newly formed Conservative Party.

After apologizing for his unfortunate remark Spencer applied to enter the Conservative Party only to have the caucus vote to reject him. The rejection also means that Spencer will not be permitted to run as a candidate for the Conservative Party in the federal election this Spring. Another candidate is already seeking the Conservative nomination in Spencer's riding.

The news has many social conservatives concerned, especially since it comes on the same day as news of a 22-page questionnaire which all Conservative candidates must answer and are asked if they have been accused of discrimination based on "sexual orientation". The question reads, "Have you been accused of discriminating or been engaged in activities that promote hatred against people on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or disability?"

LifeSiteNews.com spoke with pro-family Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott for his reaction to the Spencer rejection and the questionnaire. Vellacott told LifeSiteNews.com that he believed the question on the questionnaire was simply "flawed" and felt free to answer "no" to it. Regarding Spencer, Vellacott had only this to say, "Larry has been a good friend of mine and remains so, I just had lunch with him."

Spencer's office told LifeSiteNews.com that they are not available for comment on the issue today but will be commenting tomorrow. Calls to Stephen Harper's office were not returned by press time.

A board member from a Toronto-area Conservative Party riding association told LifeSiteNews.com, "This Spencer decision sets a disturbing precedent of intolerance by the Party."

To email your comments to Mr. Spencer:


To email comments to Conservative Leadership Candidate Stephen Harper:


See LifeSite coverage of the original Spencer ordeal:
Homosexual Activists and NDP Demand Spencer Be Permanently removed from House
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/nov/03112804.html

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