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Former Harper cabinet member and veteran Conservative Monte Solberg is riding to the defence of federal Tourism Minister Diane Ablonczy, saying she is being unfairly “hung out to dry” for giving $400,000 in stimulus cash to a gay pride event in Toronto.

Ms. Ablonczy was stripped of responsibility for disbursing a $100-million tourism stimulus fund after her June 15 grant for Toronto's gay pride week prompted a backlash from Conservative Party supporters.

Mr. Solberg, a former Tory MP first elected as a Reformer in 1993 along with Ms. Ablonczy, warned in a posting on his Internet journal that an internal fight over gay issues is a “complete loser for the party.” The Conservatives are trying to present a moderate image on social issues in Ontario and Quebec, where they need more seats in their continuing quest for a majority government.

However, sources say the Harper government, whose base includes social conservatives, was vexed by the manner in which Ms. Ablonczy unveiled the cash for the late June pride event and its centrepiece Toronto parade.

The Tourism Minister appeared in Toronto with Pride Week officials in front of a rainbow banner that advertised the event and read “You belong.” She was surrounded by a colourful cast of Pride Week supporters and the event earned significant TV coverage in Southern Ontario.

“It [was] the picture. I think that's the problem,” a Conservative Party source said.

The matter has sparked public divisions in the usually unified Tory caucus. Colleague and Saskatchewan MP Brad Trost stirred the controversy when he drew attention to the grant by criticizing it publicly – while Tory Senator Nancy Ruth, gay herself, yesterday called the cash as a worthwhile move.

Mr. Solberg says Ms. Ablonczy is being treated shabbily after decades of devotion to her party's cause.

“The bottom line is that, after all the years Diane has contributed to building the conservative movement in Canada, she deserves better than to be ratted out by a colleague on an issue that is a complete loser for the party.”

The former Tory cabinet minister said that the Conservative caucus is by no means unanimously upset about aid to gay events. Records released since the Ablonczy controversy show that Ottawa under the Conservatives has disbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars to other gay-related events.

“Half the Conservative caucus has a libertarian bent and the other half comes from the more conservative side,” Mr. Solberg wrote on his blog.

The Harper government continues to reject suggestions that Ms. Ablonczy was reprimanded over the pride grant. “We don't believe that Minister Ablonczy has been hung out to dry at all,” said Darren Cunningham, director of communications for Industry Minister Tony Clement.

“Minister Ablonczy is working on priorities that she was planning to work on this summer anyways.”

Mr. Cunningham said Mr. Solberg's defence of Ms. Ablonczy is simply “Mr. Solberg supporting his friend.”

Mr. Solberg said the Tories have two choices: They can end aid for all parades or finance all that qualify and focus on more important issues.

“You can either scrap all grants for all parades, or you can fund the thing like you always have and devote your efforts to fixing the three or four other things that really do make a difference, none of which involves parades, costumes and nudity.”