Tories to update policy handbook on gay marriage, assisted dying

VANCOUVER – Conservatives will vote Saturday on a motion to delete existing parts of the party’s policy that oppose same sex marriage.

It’s one of 30 updates or changes to party policy that made it out of emotional debates at workshops on Friday.

Those meetings saw divisions emerge among some Conservatives over issues such as assisted dying and marijuana as well as gay marriage.

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The party’s policy handbook isn’t binding on the elected leadership but is often used as the foundation of political platforms.

Delegates to the Conservative convention in Vancouver will also be voting on some changes to their party’s constitution.

Five proposals came out of those workshops, including one that would add that a “belief in the value and dignity of all human life” into the party’s statement of principles.

Proposed policy changes:

• that a national referendum must be held prior to implementing any future electoral reform proposal.
• adding a policy saying “the government should support and encourage the private development of the Energy East pipeline.”
• modifying existing policy on aboriginal affairs to say the party supports “the abolition of the Indian Act and proposes a new legislation which recognizes the fiduciary obligation of the Federal Crown while proposing a new deal with First Nations based on autonomy, taxation capacity, transparency, accountability and property rights.”
• adding to existing section on firearms to say a Conservative government “recognizes that civilian firearms ownership is a Canadian heritage,” and that a Conservative government would order a review of firearms related laws to identify parts that have no public safety value.
• adding a policy supporting maternal and newborn child health initiatives.
• adding that the party supports “conscience rights for doctors, nurses, and others to refuse to participate in or refer their patients for abortion, assisted suicide, or euthanasia.”
• deleting existing section that says: “We believe that Parliament, through a free vote, and not the courts should determine the definition of marriage. We support legislation defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”
• adding a policy that the party will not endorse religious or cultural courts.

Proposed constitution changes:

• to add “a belief in the value and dignity of all human life” as one of the party’s principles.
• to refresh the policy handbook after every fourth convention to take out all redundant and spent items
• to extend free admission to convention to people who donate the maximum either nationally or locally, instead of just nationally
• formalize that senators are allowed a vote in the process of selecting an interim leader