VANCOUVER – Preston Manning tries to sell the Reform party as concerned with the deficit and national unity, but it’s still the moral issues that spark debates inside the party and angry protests outside their gatherings.
Issues such as homosexual rights and racism highlight the split between moderates and extremists in the party that Manning has been trying to control.
“Is there really a place for socially conscious moderates in this party,” asked 17-year-old delegate Ken Glowinski during Reform’s national convention question and answer period.
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A few minutes later another delegate approached the issue from the opposite angle: Was Reform giving up its principles in order to become politically correct, or moderate?
During the convention Glowinski talked about leaving the party because of the “extremist” views of some of its members. He said young people in Canada don’t share most Reformers’ hostility to extending human rights protection to homosexuals, and even though most young Reformers support the party’s fiscal conservatism, its social policies are driving them away.
“We’ve got our heads in the sand,” he said. “(Gay) people are out there. They’re not living in the traditional lifestyle, the 1960s lifestyle, that the party (likes). We’re moving on in society and we have to move with society.”
During the four-day convention the party seldom dealt directly with the divisive issue of legal protection for homosexuals. Delegates passed a vague resolution affirming individual equality but denying group rights and refusing to ban discrimination.
But later they passed a resolution allowing special status for male-female couples that marry. There was some debate on this resolution, with some calling for homosexual marriages to be recognized, but in the end, 93 percent of delegates approved the resolution. It described a family as “those individuals related by ties of blood, marriage or adoption.”
Many young Reform party members spent much of the convention fighting the widespread public perception that the party is a haven for racist, sexist, homophobic seniors who don’t know how to live in the modern world.
Meanwhile, during an hour-long protest outside the convention centre, more than 100 homosexual, anti-racist, anti-capitalist and union activists chanted slogans and railed against the party’s alleged extremism.
Dozens of Reformers stood watching the demonstration, but many young members waded into the crowd to argue and debate the activists, incensed by the accusations.
“Have you read our policies? Do you have our policy book,” demanded Halifax delegate Jeff Whitman of a black flag-carrying protester whose face was hidden by a mask and who would not give his name.
Accused of racism
The masked man said the party’s policies didn’t matter. He knew the party was supported by racist groups, groups he said would beat him up if he revealed his identity.
The racism accusations continued even though some Reformers there were not caucasian.
“Go back to Alberta,” screamed one protester at a male, white delegate. “F- hillbilly hicks.”
The Reformer pointed out an East Indian party member nearby as proof the party is not made up exclusively of white, male Albertans. But the woman’s presence did not faze the protester.
“There she is – the token one,” he snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. “Good one.”
B.C. delegate Kochu Dombro said she didn’t like being described that way.
“There are many non-white people in the Reform party,” she said. “I’m not one token person.”
And even though many young Reformers were defending their organization in the crowd of protesters, it was still commonly attacked for having many elderly delegates and members.
“We’re the youth of this country,” said Jennifer Klages, who had a profane message on the baby backpack she was carrying and was standing beside a very pregnant woman who had “Prisoner of the Free World” written on her naked stomach.
“They are the older people of this country … and we should be listened to a lot more than the old folks because they’re just going to die off and we’re going to be here for a lot longer than they are,” she said, laughing afterward at her comment.
Standing apart from the demonstration with a bemused expression was Airdrie, Alta. delegate Alan Warnock.
He said protests and accusations such as the one he was watching might not be positive experiences for the Reform Party, but they probably don’t hurt it either.
“I think it’s quite humorous,” he said. “They’re certainly an extremely radical fringe and not representative of the mainstream of society at all. When you compare the typical member of the party to some of the folks that are here today, it becomes quite clear that we are the moderates and the mainstream.”
