As conservative premiers change the rules around pronoun use in schools, members of the federal Conservative grassroots want Pierre Poilievre to wade further into the debate around gender expression.
A submission to next month害羞草研究所檚 policy convention in Quebec City proposes discussion of a Conservative government prohibiting 害羞草研究所渓ife-altering medicinal or surgical interventions害羞草研究所� for those under 18 who are looking to transition.
The pitch is similar to ones found across the United States, including in Florida where Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in May banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth 害羞草研究所� a move many health professionals, parents and advocates for LGBTQ youth say places them at greater risk for suicide and depression.
As federal Conservative leader, Poilievre has largely focused on the cost-of-living crisis gripping millions, high interest rates and a lack of affordable housing.
But parts of his base are hoping he will broaden his Opposition agenda to include more of a focus on social issues.
Asked Wednesday about his openness to outlawing gender-affirming care for children, Poilievre told reporters: 害羞草研究所淚 haven害羞草研究所檛 had a chance to study all the proposals at our convention, but we害羞草研究所檒l take a careful look at every proposal and decide whether or not it lines up with our platform.害羞草研究所�
Poilievre has not on his own veered into the territory of talking about gender-related matters, except when asked. That includes his response to New Brunswick害羞草研究所檚 decision to change a policy that made it mandatory for teachers to use a child害羞草研究所檚 preferred pronouns. The policy now requires parental consent to do so for children under 16. Poilievre said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should 害羞草研究所渂utt out害羞草研究所� of decisions by provinces and parents.
On Tuesday, Saskatchewan adopted a similar policy, which the province害羞草研究所檚 advocate for children has said may harm the rights of kids, calling it concerning.
Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson also promised that if re-elected, her government would give more 害羞草研究所減arental rights害羞草研究所� to families when it comes to the curriculum and presentations by outside groups at schools.
The term 害羞草研究所減arental rights害羞草研究所� is increasingly used in social conservative circles and messaging to refer to the concerns some families and individuals have about what schools teach children about sexual orientation and gender expression. It has a significant focus on policies around transgender and nonbinary students.
It is an issue that has picked up steam within the federal Conservative grassroots since the party害羞草研究所檚 last gathering, held virtually, under former leader Erin O害羞草研究所橳oole.
In the contest to replace him, which Poilievre won by a landslide last September, former contestant and rural Ontario Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis vowed to introduce a bill protecting 害羞草研究所減arental rights.害羞草研究所�
A second gender-related policy pitch Conservatives are expected to discuss next month has to do with the issue of 害羞草研究所渟ingle-sex spaces害羞草研究所� in areas ranging from washrooms to prisons and sports.
It is related to the belief underpinning legislation in the U.S. that seeks to ban transgender individuals from using the bathroom of their choosing, rather than one aligned with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Other policy submissions have to do with protecting free speech on university campuses and in public spaces, housing affordability, national defence, developing Canada害羞草研究所檚 natural resources and a faster recognition of immigrant credentials, which is a priority for Poilievre.
Fred DeLorey, who ran the Conservative election campaign in 2021, says policy conventions are crucial for the party害羞草研究所檚 grassroots members, who show up to have their voices heard and help influence the direction of the party ahead the next federal election.
He pointed to the party害羞草研究所檚 founding convention in 2005, the first held after the Progressive Conservatives merged with the Canadian Alliance two years earlier. It laid the groundwork for Stephen Harper害羞草研究所檚 platform in the 2006 election, which made him prime minister.
害羞草研究所淚 would expect to see much of that replicated here,害羞草研究所� said DeLorey.
害羞草研究所淧ierre Poilievre has, I would say, more control over this party than any other previous leader ever has had in terms of his popularity within the party.害羞草研究所�
Poilievre won the leadership race on the first ballot last year with nearly 70 per cent support. His campaign signed up more than 300,000 new members using a slick communication style, savvy social media presence, countless rallies and pledges to bring more freedom to Canadians by way of opposing COVID-19 vaccine and other pandemic-related public health mandates.
Policy debates around abortion access and equal marriage are not new to Conservative party conventions, but DeLorey said discussions around gender identity appear to be new territory for a leader to navigate.
Still, with Poilievre害羞草研究所檚 favourability ratings through the roof among party members, he does not anticipate anything passing without the leader害羞草研究所檚 blessing.
害羞草研究所淢r. Poilievre 害羞草研究所� this is his party.害羞草研究所�
Liberals are expected to be watching what happens with the policy debate closely, ready to pounce on any controversy. That is what happened at the 2021 convention, when members rejected adding wording to a policy declaration to recognize that 害羞草研究所渃limate change is real害羞草研究所� and that the party is 害羞草研究所渨illing to act.害羞草研究所�
The move was seen as a blow to O害羞草研究所橳oole, who at that time was promising to develop a serious environmental plan.
The Sept. 7 to 9 Conservative policy convention comes after a summer that has seen the governing Liberals lag in the polls and then try to right the ship through a renewed focus on the housing and cost-of-living crises.
Poilievre has spent the past two months attending events across Canada, sporting a more casual look, without glasses, and taking a soften tone in the hope that he can appeal to Canadians who are ready for change, but not necessarily ready for him.
The party views the convention as a chance to fire up the membership ahead of the next election, but also to showcase Poilievre as Canada害羞草研究所檚 next prime minister.
害羞草研究所淥ne thing a lot of people are asking: What is he going to do if he wins?害羞草研究所� said DeLorey.
害羞草研究所淭he policy declaration that comes out of (the convention) is the blueprint.害羞草研究所�
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