By Tim Waggoner
WINNIPEG, November 18, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – More news from the Conservative Convention further amplifies the fact that small-c conservatism is emerging at the party’s base; but it remains to be seen whether this conservatism will spread to the top.
At this weekend’s convention delegates rejected a change that sought to water down the Conservatives’ policy on traditional marriage, which was put forward by a delegate from Cypress Hills Grasslands.
According to Cecilia Forsyth, Western Vice-President of REAL Women of Canada, P-210 would have inserted a new clause calling for "the respect for the freedom of religious organizations to maintain the traditional definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman."
Forsyth explained, however, that while seemingly innocuous, P-210 also sought to remove a clause which states “that Parliament, through a free vote, and not the courts should determine the definition of marriage,” and another clause, which states, “A Conservative government will support legislation defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman."
The delegates also acted to protect and promote the rights of parents, rejecting resolution P-212 and in turn upholding Policy Section 66, which, as Forsyth described, "recognizes that parents are in the best position to determine the care needs of their children ... and that support should go to all parents and families raising children, especially lower and middle income parents."
The Conservative delegates further demonstrated their respect for the family, supporting a resolution that supports income-splitting benefits to families raising children - amending a clause under Section 20.
When these outcomes supporting marriage and family are coupled with the fact that delegates passed resolutions P-203 and P-207, resolutions to curb the powers of the human rights commissions and to protect pregnant mothers from violent crime, it is safe to say that there is a strong small-c conservative movement among the lower ranks of Canada’s in-power party.
Now only time will tell if the Party’s leader, Prime-Minister Stephen Harper, who in the past has refused to tackle controversial topics, will adopt the same mindset as his party’s members.
"Of course," said Forsyth about the results of the convention, "our work is not finished. We must continue in all our efforts as individuals and groups until Canada becomes a nation that respects the rights to life of all human beings and supports the traditional values of family and marriage."