Steven Chase's piece this morning reminded me that Monte Solberg was one of the first Reform Party elected officials I ever met. The encounter happened when some Progressive Conservatives and Reformers (my brother Rick among them) started trying to think outside the box about a bigger tent a few years back.
(The discussions led to something called the PC-DR coalition which lasted for a while, but ultimately failed for reasons fairly predictable, but not the point of this piece.)
Monte impressed me as a thoughtful and energetic man who knew early on that a social-issues divide was something that conservatives in Canada would always have to bridge in order to form a competitive party or a durable government.
Reading Monte's reported comments about Diane Ablonczy and the federal grant to Toronto's Gay Pride parade made me marvel that this challenge remains unresolved. I think Solberg has it completely right. There is absolutely nothing in it for the Conservative Party to signal yet again, that they flinch at the idea that gay and lesbian people should be treated no differently from others.
It's golf season, so forgive the metaphor, but gay rights issues give the Conservative Party the yips. It's as if they know what the right move is, they've done it many times before, but every once in a while, as they settle over a choice that involves gay rights, something misfires.
The first half dozen times, you could make an (uncomfortable) case that its part of a strategic plan to secure their base, to rally like minded social conservatives. A half dozen more, and that argument no longer holds much water.
As to the manner of the announcement, it feels to me that Diane Ablonczy trying to get publicity is something she might be rewarded for, not sanctioned. The Conservatives base is intact, but its not big enough. They need more voters, especially, urban, female and Ontario voters, to see them as tolerant. They need to worry less about losing support among those who struggle with the idea of equal treatment.
Bruce Anderson