Andrew Scheer at the conservative convention in Halifax (CBC)
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is calling on party supporters to remain united.
However, during a keynote address to the party’s Halifax convention this week, Scheer chose not to directly mention his leadership rival, Maxime Bernier, who quit the party on Thursday and vowed to start his own party.
Scheer also talked about recent controversies involving Sir John A. Macdonald calling attempts to remove statues and images of Canada’s first prime minister a “disgrace.”
He said Canadians need to push back against what he called the “forces of political correctness.”
During the convention, Scheer also reiterated his pledge not to reopen the abortion debate, hours before party members voted to uphold the existing policy.
One of 74 resolutions debated Friday at the convention proposed removing any reference to regulating abortion, but was narrowly defeated on Saturday.
The party policy currently says a Conservative government would not support any legislation to regulate abortion.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Scheer said he would not bring in any legislation to reopen divisive issues like abortion, even if a majority of members had voted in favour of the resolution.
He said he welcomes open debate and discussion within the membership but will remain “unequivocal” in his stance that he will not entertain divisive social issues, including the abortion debate.
Instead, he says he hopes to work with party members on issues they can all agree upon.
The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
