Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 31, 2016
‘Freedom and respect’: Conservatives strike marriage definition from party policy
Conservative delegates at the party’s policy convention in Vancouver have voted to strike the definition of marriage in the party’s official policy document.
In a 1,036-462 vote, delegates from all provinces except Saskatchewan cast majority votes in favour of no longer defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
“I think our party got a little more Canadian today,” Calgary MP Michelle Rempel said after the vote. “It’s a milestone and it’s not just a milestone for our party, it’s a milestone for all Canadians.”
“Yes, it took us 10 years to get to this point, but I think this is something that is a beacon for people around the world who are looking at equality rights. Canada is a place where we celebrate equality.”
The result followed a heated debate and prompted some high-fives and cheers across the hall. It shifts the party’s official position on same-sex marriage from being against the unions to neutral.
Eric Lorenzen, from an Eastern Ontario riding, said during the debate that as a gay Conservative, he found it troubling that his party told him his relationship with his partner was not valued.
“What other group does our party have a negative policy towards? A policy of restricting civil rights and restricting full participation in society?” he said, drawing applause.
The result followed a heated debate and prompted some high-fives and cheers across the hall. It shifts the party’s official position on same-sex marriage from being against the unions to neutral.
Eric Lorenzen, from an Eastern Ontario riding, said during the debate that as a gay Conservative, he found it troubling that his party told him his relationship with his partner was not valued.
“What other group does our party have a negative policy towards? A policy of restricting civil rights and restricting full participation in society?” he said, drawing applause. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-convention-saturday-votes-1.3604990
Canada, Maxime Bernier, Rona Ambrose, Tony Clement, Peter Van Loan, Jason Kenney, Kellie Leitch, Michelle Rempel, Same Sex, marriage, policy, conservative, gay