HEADING into last weekend’s Conservative party policy convention, the Liberal public relations machine tried to counter the devastating “Mr. Dithers” label on prime minister Paul Martin by calling Conservative leader Stephen Harper “Mr. Muzzle.”
The presumption was that he would manipulate convention debate to make sure nothing damaging to the fledgling party would be said. If last weekend in Montreal featured muzzled debate, what would wide-open debate sound like?
Ontario MP Scott Reid proposed to renege on a deal signed when the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties joined last year.
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He wanted former Alliance ridings with large memberships to have more clout in the party than smaller-membership former PC ridings.
The debate, and subsequent defeat of Reid’s proposal, was emotional, bitter and very public.
In a workshop debate on supply management, an Alberta delegate called it “Stalinist” even though the majority embraced the regulated, protected system and the party hopes a strong endorsement of the policy once reviled by free-trade Reformers will attract votes in rural Ontario, Quebec and Maritime Canada.
During a debate on abortion policy, former PC MP Elsie Wayne raged against “killing babies.”
The passion was showcased although the decision went against her as the party tries to put on a socially moderate face.
Meanwhile, anti-Harper factions were allowed to pile fact sheets outside the hall accusing him of betraying the party.
“We’ve seen better DAYs,” said the handout, referring to former leader Stockwell Day. “Vote for a leadership review.”
Harper won an 84 percent endorsement despite the public and tolerated opposition.
By contrast, although Martin was endorsed by 88 percent at the recent Liberal convention, he has reportedly warned his party rivals not to organize against him. It is impossible to imagine anti-Martin material being tolerated at a Liberal convention table.
Compare the Liberal control from the centre with the Conservative free-for-all and the “Mr. Muzzle” label seems bizarre.
Still, Harper got what he wanted from the first policy convention Ñ strong support and some moderate policies.
Charisma continues to elude him but his first use of a teleprompter March 18 resulted in a strong speech. The party responded by trying to make life easier for him.
Harper said his government would limit the marriage definition to one man and one woman but would not regulate abortion. Delegates gave him supportive resolutions.
The party embraced Reform-Alliance positions on cutting taxes, abolishing the gun registry and mixing public and private health care while endorsing more PC-like views on retaining the role of government in helping poor regions and citizens.
It is a shifting party that Harper probably feels comfortable leading, but it still is a party with a heavy hand in some areas.
And in a strange move, the party that allowed Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc QuŽbecois observers to roam the halls refused observer status to former PC leadership candidate David Orchard.
Apparently even the free-speech Conservatives believe there is a limit to appropriate dissenting voices.
