Case Explained: Tories support tougher crime laws; reject gender-affirming care proposal – Legal Perspective

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Conservative Party delegates reaffirmed their support for tough-on-crime policies and defunding the CBC at the party’s national convention this weekend. 

More than 1,000 party members gathered in Calgary on Jan. 30 and 31 to give their input on the party’s future. 

The main event was Friday’s leadership review, which saw Pierre Poilievre capture a strong majority with 87 per cent of votes. 

But on Saturday afternoon, party members took centre stage as delegates voted on more than 30 policy proposals or changes to the party’s official policies. 

All but one proposal passed. The party’s leadership is not required to make these policies part of the party’s election platform or to introduce legislation on them in the House of Commons. 

‘Hope and healing’

Crime was a main topic of discussion at the convention. 

Delegates voted in favour of a new policy saying a Conservative government would support changing the Criminal Code to “presume any force, including lethal force, is reasonable” when defending against home intruders. 

Another resolution says a Conservative government would prioritize stronger bail terms for accused individuals considered likely to reoffend. The resolution passed with 97 per cent of the vote. 

Party delegates voted overwhelmingly to change the party’s drug policy to explicitly oppose drug decriminalization and publicly funded safer supply. Safer supply programs dispense prescription opioids to people who use drugs as an alternative to toxic street drugs.  

“We believe in hope and healing. We support treatment, recovery and rehabilitation for those suffering from addiction,” the policy says.

Delegates also passed a resolution supporting stronger offences for perpetrators of intimate partner violence. 

Some criminal justice proposals were more contentious. A resolution saying the party “would pursue immediate deportation” for non-Canadian citizens convicted of crimes passed with 76 per cent in favour. 

‘No jurisdiction’

Most policy resolutions passed with little debate. But some led to heated discussion, particularly those related to diversity.

Delegates passed a change to the party’s compelled speech policy that says “no person should have their professional accreditation revoked solely for voicing their opinion or refusing compelled speech.” The proposal was inspired by the treatment of famed Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, who has been professionally disciplined for making controversial public statements.

Some delegates warned this policy risked veering into federal overreach, since the provinces are responsible for regulating the professional regulatory bodies. 

In response, Jacob Mantle, member of Parliament for York-Durham in Ontario, told the delegates that “freedom knows no jurisdiction.” 

The topic of gender identity also caused a stir on the convention floor. 

Delegates were asked to vote on a proposal affirming the right of parents to seek “body-affirming talk therapy” for children who are struggling with their gender identity. Supporters of the proposal spoke of the fear that some therapists steer youth towards medical practices to change their gender. 

But other delegates disagreed sharply with the proposal, specifically a phrase voicing disagreement with an existing federal ban on “conversion therapy.” Conversion therapy is commonly understood as therapy that tries to change an individual’s sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. 

The proposal was the only one to fail, with nearly 52 per cent of delegates voting against it.  

Jordan Paquet, vice-president of public affairs firm Bluesky Strategy Group, said the convention debate showed the Conservative Party is a “big tent.” 

Although the proposal about “body-affirming care” did not pass, it shows that the party is willing to discuss “contentious” issues,” he said.

Party leadership has not indicated a willingness to lift the ban on conversion therapy, he says. “At the end of the day, delegates in the party just decided to move on and I think that was certainly positive for a lot of people.”

Early in the convention, the party also chose not to debate certain policies often favoured by the party’s social conservatives. This included deciding not to debate whether to remove an existing party policy saying the party will not support legislation to regulate abortion. They also chose not to debate several proposals about medical assistance in dying.

Cost it support

The Conservatives’ distaste for the CBC was another notable feature of the debate. Delegates approved a change to the party’s policy that says the national broadcaster’s control and operations “should be accomplished through independent non-governmental funding.”

This change removed the Conservatives’ previous statement that called the CBC “an important part of the broadcasting system in Canada” and supported a reduction in government funding for the public broadcaster. 

On the debate floor, Rachael Thomas, member of Parliament for the Alberta riding of Lethbridge, called government statements that the CBC is responsible for social cohesion in Canada “propaganda at its finest.” Her statements were met with loud cheers.

The changes passed with 77 per cent support. But not before some delegates warned that supporting defunding Radio-Canada would cost the party support in French regions of Canada, including Quebec and New Brunswick.  

Delegates also took on Canada’s recent recognition of a Palestinian State. They voted in favour of a resolution saying Canada will only recognize new states after the House of Commons votes to do so. 

The party is leaving the convention “extremely united under the leader,” said Paquet. 

Canadians should expect to see Poilievre travel around the country more, he says. 

And while many Canadians appear happy with the Carney government, that may change if the Liberals do not make life more affordable for Canadians, he says. 

“The government’s in a bit of a honeymoon period right now,” he said. “But in a few months time, if Canadians don’t start seeing real change [on affordability] they’re going to start looking elsewhere.” 

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