Fear not, intrepid ITQ readers who are sticking it out through the turbulent – but temporary – format tweaking that is currently underway: this post will be updated just as soon as I’ve had time to think of some smart and/or witty things to say about the policy resolutions that are up for debate at next week’s convention in Winnipeg. Which, incidentally, still have yet to be officially released, as far as I know, but are slowly but surely leaking out, despite the best efforts of the Conservative Party to keep the package under wraps until the very last possible moment. (For ITQ’s money, that likely almost nothing to do with the content, which is pretty tame by like, oldschool Reform standards, but is just another example of the control freakiness of the national office.)
Fear not, intrepid ITQ readers who are sticking it out through the turbulent – but temporary – format tweaking that is currently underway: this post will be updated just as soon as I’ve had time to think of some smart and/or witty things to say about the policy resolutions that are up for debate at next week’s convention in Winnipeg. Which, incidentally, still have yet to be officially released, as far as I know, but are slowly but surely leaking out, despite the best efforts of the Conservative Party to keep the package under wraps until the very last possible moment. (For ITQ’s money, that likely almost nothing to do with the content, which is pretty tame by like, oldschool Reform standards, but is just another example of the control freakiness of the national office.)
In the meantime, here’s a quick and dirty cut and paste of a few of the proposals that have jumped out at me so far from the social policy package.
Note: I’ve tweaked the format slightly from how it appears in the original PDF: proposed additions to the text of the current Policy Declaration, which came out of the 2005 convention in Montreal, appear in bold; text that would be removed is struck through. (For more on the 2005 Policy Declaration, or, more specifically, how it seems to have disappeared in a puff of potentially embarrassing political nostalgia, which is actually turning out to be an interesting little subplot, click here.)
RESOLUTION P-201
8. Supreme Court Judge Appointments
A Conservative Government will ensure that nominees to the Supreme Court of Canada will be ratified by a free vote in Parliament, after receiving the approval of the Justice Committee of the House of Commons.
Fixed Supreme Court Terms
PROPOSED BY CALGARY SOUTH EAST
A Conservative Government will ensure that nominees to the Supreme Court of Canada will be ratified by a free vote in Parliament, after receiving the approval of the Justice Committee of the House of Common, and for a fixed term limit of 10 years with eligibility for reappointment.
12. Parliament and the Courts
i) A Conservative Government will ensure that Parliament is the law-making body of Canada rather than abdicating that responsibility to the
courts.
ii) A Conservative Government will establish a Judicial Review Committee of Parliament to prepare an appropriate response to those court
decisions which Parliament believes should be addressed through legislation.
RESOLUTION P-202
Affirm Charter
PROPOSED BY CALGARY WEST
iii) The Conservative Party re-affirms the legitimacy of the entire Charter of Rights and Freedoms including Section 33 (Notwithstanding Clause).
Modify HRC Jurisdiction
PROPOSED BY VICTORIA AND KELOWNA – LAKE COUNTRY
iii) The Conservative Party supports legislation to remove authority from the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Tribunal to regulate, receive, investigate or adjudicate complaints related to Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act.
RESOLUTION P-207
NEW
Protecting Pregnant Women
PROPOSED BY PRINCE ALBERT AND SASKATOON HUMBOLDT
The Conservative Party supports legislation to ensure that individuals who commit violence against a pregnant woman would face additional charges if her unborn child was killed or injured during the commission of a crime against the mother.
63. Family and Marriage
i) The Conservative Party believes that the family unit is essential to the well-being of individuals and society, because that is where children
learn values and develop a sense of responsibility. Therefore government legislation and programs should support and respect the role of
the Canadian family.
ii) The Conservative Party believes in the right and duty of parents to raise their own children responsibly according to their own conscience
and beliefs. We believe no person, government or agency has the right to interfere in the exercise of that duty except through due process of
law.
iii) The Conservative Party believes that Parliament, through a free vote, and not the courts should determine the definition of marriage. A
Conservative Government would support the freedom of religious organizations to determine their own practices with respect to marriage.
iv) A Conservative Government will support legislation defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
RESOLUTION P-210
Family and Marriage
PROPOSED BY CYPRESS HILLS GRASSLANDS
iii) The Conservative Party believes that Parliament, through a free vote, and not the courts should determine the definition of marriage respects the freedom of religious organizations to maintain the traditional definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. A Conservative
Government will support the freedom of religious organizations to determine their own practices with respect to marriage.
iv) A Conservative Government will support legislation defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Polygamy
PROPOSED BY THUNDER BAY – RAINY RIVER, THUNDER BAY – SUPERIOR NORTH AND EDMONTON EAST AND CHARLESWOOD ASSINIBOIA
iii) The Conservative Party believes that Parliament, through a free vote, and not the courts should determine the definition of marriage. The Conservative Party believes that religious organizations should not be forced to perform marriages which are against their beliefs. A Conservative Government would support the freedom of religious organizations to determine their own practices with respect to marriage. iv) A Conservative Government will support legislation defining marriage as the union of one man and
one woman.
(v) The Conservative Party opposes polygamy.
RESOLUTION P-213
67. Women
The Conservative Party supports gender equality through all policy and legislative considerations.
i) The Canadian workforce has evolved to include more women than ever before. The Conservative Party believes all Canadians have the
right to freedom from discrimination in the workplace and equality of opportunity.
ii) Individuals should be only judged on skills, qualifications and merits. Women must be entitled to equal pay for work of equal value.
iii) The Conservative Party recognizes the value of the caregiver. We will examine measures within the tax system to help offset economic
costs without discrimination.
Women
PROPOSED BY CAUCUS MEMBER(S)
The Conservative Party supports gender equality through all policy and legislative considerations the full participation of women in the social, economic, and cultural life of Canada.
i) The Canadian workforce has evolved to include more women than ever before. The Conservative Party believes all Canadians have the right to freedom from discrimination in the workplace and equality of opportunity.
ii) Individuals should be judged on skills, qualifications and merits. Women must be entitled to equal pay for work of equal value equal work.
RESOLUTION P-217
Wireless Telephone Industry
PROPOSED BY LAVAL-LES ÎLES
v) The Conservative Party believes the government should promote competition in the wireless telecommunications industry and should develop a national wireless strategy based on mobile content.
RESOLUTION P-218
89. Diversity Principles
The Conservative Party believes that Canada’s multicultural society is a valued reality and accepts the need to foster understanding and equality of opportunity while promoting common values across Canada.
Diversity Principles
PROPOSED BY VICTORIA AND PRINCE EDWARD – HASTINGS
The Conservative Party believes that Canada’s multicultural society is a valued reality and accepts the need to foster understanding and equality of opportunity, while promoting common values across Canada expecting Canadians to adopt Canadian common values such as equality, democracy, and the rule of law.
RESOLUTION P-221
100. Immigration Principles
The Conservative Party supports a welcoming and well-managed immigration system for Canada based on:
…
vi) upholding Canada’s humanitarian tradition of providing safe haven for refugees.
Genuine Refugees
PROPOSED BY NEWTON NORTH DELTA
vi) upholding Canada’s humanitarian tradition to accept genuine refugees and immigrants only after a thorough screening. Those found to have a criminal record or with ties to extremist or terrorist groups must not be accepted. of providing safe haven for refugees