The Conservative Party is facing internal pressure to embrace several contentious policy stances, including advocating for private health care, eliminating Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and shifting away from the party’s neutral stance on abortion. These proposals are part of a wide array of policy suggestions set to be discussed at the Conservative Party convention in Calgary later this month. The convention will serve as a platform for delegates to deliberate on various policy matters, ranging from discontinuing the temporary foreign worker program to empowering the ethics commissioner and opposing the introduction of a central bank digital currency.
While policies endorsed during the convention hold significance as reflections of grassroots Conservative members’ views, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not obligated to adopt them. Among the health care-related proposals is the suggestion to introduce “private delivery options” within the universal public health care system, aligning with models found in other countries with dual-tier health care systems. Another proposal aims to restrict access to medical assistance in dying (MAID) by eliminating the requirement for health care professionals to refer patients seeking MAID to willing providers.
Regarding abortion, the current Conservative policy book commits to not supporting legislation that regulates abortion. However, a proposal up for debate seeks to remove this commitment, arguing that it contradicts the party’s allowance for free votes on abortion-related matters and conscience rights for medical practitioners. The proposal also challenges the ban on conversion therapy, framing it as a parental rights issue and advocating for the right of parents to arrange body-affirming talk therapy for gender-confused children.
Additionally, a policy known as the “Jordan Peterson Policy” aims to safeguard individuals from professional repercussions for expressing opinions or resisting compelled speech, drawing from Jordan Peterson’s experiences with transgender pronoun usage. The proposal counters the prevailing ban on conversion therapy, citing parental rights and emphasizing government support for Canadian families.
Furthermore, there is a proposal to defund CBC/Radio-Canada and reduce government involvement in media regulation. The Conservative Party advocates for independent, non-governmental funding for CBC/SRC to minimize governmental control over its operations. Immigration proposals are also on the table, with one suggesting the termination of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program, citing the need to prioritize Canadian job opportunities and address rising youth unemployment rates.
In summary, the upcoming Conservative Party convention in Calgary will serve as a platform for discussing a range of policy proposals that could potentially shape the party’s future directions, although final decisions on adopting these policies rest with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.