Tory backers push for 'truly conservative' government

[Praxius]

Tory backers push for 'truly conservative' government - CTV News

After trying for more than half a decade, the Conservatives finally have a majority government, and now the party's longtime backers -- including the religious right -- are hoping their concerns will get the government's attention.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has promised Canadians that there will be "no surprises" after winning his long-sought majority, but will be under additional pressure from his party's small-c conservative backbenchers and supporters on certain issues.

David Krayden, the executive director of Conservative Values of Canada, a Christian political group, said abortion will be brought up, whether Harper likes it or not.

"Stephen Harper has said no (to abortion laws) but a lot of his caucus is pro-life, a lot of his supporters are pro-life," he told CTV's Power Play Wednesday.

"I think it's time for those who don't think abortion is not on the table to realize it's catch-up with the rest of the Western world where there are some restrictions on abortion."

Krayden said he expects the Conservative government to move forward with reform of the Canadian Wheat Board and "we are going to see better and more criminal justice legislation."

Joseph Ben Ami, president of the conservative Canadian Centre for Policy Studies organization, said it's not just religious groups that want restrictions on abortion.

"I know professed atheists who are strongly pro-life and at least would like to see the government allow a dialogue," he told Power Play.

But personally, he has other issues he would like to see as priorities for the Conservative majority government.

"If I had a wish list, top of my list would be the opportunity to have an intelligent debate about human rights commissions and tribunals," Ben Ami said.

"We should be having an open, honest and intelligent debate about immigration; I don't think we have a well-managed immigration policy."

As for other hot-button issues, Krayden said he didn't think there was much support for re-opening discussions on the death penalty.

He said the Harper government should focus more on "positive conservatism."

"This is an opportunity to have a truly conservative government," Krayden said.

Ben Ami said there's been a ‘reluctance to make (conservative) arguments' from the Harper Conservatives.

"At some point in time, you have to stand for something more substantial than the mere fact you are not the Liberals," he added.
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Wasn't it a couple of days ago people in here supporting the Conservatives & Harper said these things wouldn't turn into issues and everybody else was fear mongering?

Well it's beginning as expected..... at least from these Con groups.... I guess we'll soon see how Harper reacts to these type of demands/requests.

 

[mentalfloss]

Harper needs to put the clamp down on his own caucus more than the NDP, lol

 

[Goober]

I do not see Abortion on any menu - i do see incremtalism by the Tories - I will wait to see if they do as the Libs did when balancing the budget - On the backs of the poor and the middle class.

You know as well as i that the Libs have a substantial number of Pro Lifers as well.

As to the Minority on which either party relies - The Libs or the Cons always throw a bone or 2. Politics. Plain politics

LOL

Oh this will definitely be an entertaining 5 years.

4 years - Election Law passed by Harper - Set election dates -

 

[Bar Sinister]

I do not see Abortion on any menu - i do see incremtalism by the Tories - I will wait to see if they do as the Libs did when balancing the budget - On the backs of the poor and the middle class.

You know as well as i that the Libs have a substantial number of Pro Lifers as well.

As to the Minority on which either party relies - The Libs or the Cons always throw a bone or 2. Politics. Plain politics



4 years - Election Law passed by Harper - Set election dates -

Harper has already broken his own four-year election law law once. Who is to say he won't do it again?

One thing that puts a real brake on tendencies toward the drastic by any majority government is the fear of losing that majority. I don't expect anything extreme out of the Harper majority government - not unless he is willing to pull a Mulroney.

 

[Praxius]

Well he's already tried to pull some extreme stuff when had was in a minority..... I doubt he's anymore worried now that he's in a majority.

 

[Goober]

Harper has already broken his own four-year election law law once. Who is to say he won't do it again?

One thing that puts a real brake on tendencies toward the drastic by any majority government is the fear of losing that majority. I don't expect anything extreme out of the Harper majority government - not unless he is willing to pull a Mulroney.

Broken political promises and of course I will love you in the morning are both on the same level. Harper won on the Economy - Not social agenda's as he has made clear - slow and step by step is his method.

 

[CDNBear]

Harper needs to put the clamp down on his own caucus more than the NDP, lol

That was one of your complaints during the election...he was to controlling, now you want him to be more controlling.

So which is it, he's to controlling, or not enough?

Besides that, did you read the article? Can you show me a member of the Conservative caucus, in the article?

 

[damngrumpy]

There are cracks appearing in the Conservative house of membership. While Harper
understands, a conservative government has to be main stream and the social folks,
want to take the party way past the right fork in the road. If they were to do so they
would not get themselves re-elected on the next trip to the polls.
There is a big difference between a fiscal conservative movement and a Social
conservative movement. It looks like in the long run the progressive conservatives will
control the agenda and the long battle for the Reform Alliance will end in a handful of
dust. If they truly did what the evangelicals want done, the flack going up will make
them out to be like fundamentalists and we know that fundamentalists just like the
religious wing nuts in the Middle East.
I think Harper will let the agenda go to a lot of places but I don't think he will go down the
road to chaos at least not during this term. Both the Conservatives and the NDP want
to avoid perception problems. I actually believe both will at least attempt to work on
some things together.

 

[cranky]

Harper needs to put the clamp down on his own caucus more than the NDP, lol

but I thought the liberals and ndp don't like how harper puts the clamp down on his own people? have they flip flopped on this too?

 

[lone wolf]

but I thought the liberals and ndp don't like how harper puts the clamp down on his own people? have they flip flopped on this too?

Only their aye hands ... not their mouths - and they all have that problem.

 

[cranky]

Only their aye hands ... not their mouths - and they all have that problem.

you broke your what?

 

[Mowich]

Wasn't it a couple of days ago people in here supporting the Conservatives & Harper said these things wouldn't turn into issues and everybody else was fear mongering?

Well it's beginning as expected..... at least from these Con groups.... I guess we'll soon see how Harper reacts to these type of demands/requests.

I was and I am supporting the Conservatives and Mr Harper, to answer your question. As I said then and will now repeat, as you do seem to have a slight problem with comprehension - abortion is not on the table for the government. The economy, infrastructure, the deficit..... these are the issues that are on the table.

 

[lone wolf]

you broke your what?

Such a childish response ... or is it the crank?

 

[damngrumpy]

If the present conservative government begins to head down the social and human
aspects of our society they run the risk of playing right into the hands of the NDP.
In order to do that they will eventually have to er...um ah think about opening the
constitution and that would make Mr Layton quite happy, because once you open it
anything and everything is on the table for discussion. I don't want that the Conservatives
don't want that and neither does the Quebec Provincial Government.
Discussion social aspects of society in uncertain times is not wise and I think Mr Harper
will avoid it as much as possible. To start on the abortion and other issues of the
fringe would make them look very bad.
Harper has to stick to fiscal issues for the foreseeable future to maintain his credibility.

 

[weaselwords]

I was and I am supporting the Conservatives and Mr Harper, to answer your question. As I said then and will now repeat, as you do seem to have a slight problem with comprehension - abortion is not on the table for the government. The economy, infrastructure, the deficit..... these are the issues that are on the table.

The thin edge of the wedge "Roxanne's Law" (prevent coersion to abort) introduced in 40-3 defeated on 2nd reading (97Y -178N). Now that there is a majority Ron Bruinooge -Con-Winnipeg South (Chair Pro-Life Caucus) will probably reintroduce the bill & this time would have a better chance to pass. This one bill could start the ball rolling on comprehensive abortion law.

 

[mentalfloss]

Bitter tears from Calgary, incoming..

Rob Breakenridge is right to predict that Stephen Harper will not reopen the abortion debate, because Harper is a long-term thinker.He understands that a victory for pro-life in the immediate term will be overturned at the next election when his party is kicked out of Parliament.

Harper recognizes something that many Canadians want to ignore; Canadians are addicted to abortion.

A true victory for the pro-life movement will not happen in Parliament, but across fences between Canadian neighbours.Even if the Conservatives change the laws, they will not change the hearts of Canadians, hooked on killing their unborn.

Poor guy..

​

 

[SLM]

It seems to me a fundamental flaw within the party. Conservatives always argue for less government and less government control, yet the social conservatives, within the same party, seem to want to be able to tell everyone exactly how they should be living. That does not make sense to me, either you advocate less control or more.

Time will ultimately tell which path is chosen by the current party. My gut tells me the path of social conservatism will not be the path of least resistance in this nation. And I may be wrong, but my gut also tells me that the current leaders of this conservative party are more interested in long term governance, beyond their current mandate.

As I said, time will tell.

 

[JLM]

It seems to me a fundamental flaw within the party. Conservatives always argue for less government and less government control, yet the social conservatives, within the same party, seem to want to be able to tell everyone exactly how they should be living. That does not make sense to me, either you advocate less control or more.

Time will ultimately tell which path is chosen by the current party. My gut tells me the path of social conservatism will not be the path of least resistance in this nation. And I may be wrong, but my gut also tells me that the current leaders of this conservative party are more interested in long term governance, beyond their current mandate.

As I said, time will tell.

I think if Harper is smart (and I believe he is) he will mainly stick to fiscal matters for his first term and see how much support he gets next election.

 

[weaselwords]

I think if Harper is smart (and I believe he is) he will mainly stick to fiscal matters for his first term and see how much support he gets next election.

You don't take into acccount the Hop-to-your-rites. They're becoming more vocal each passing day with the trial balloons
Abortion
Capital Punishment
Private Property Rights
Long Gun Registry (foregone conclusion) also on this issue the quiet things in the background The Firearms Act & what to do with the existing Registry records

 

[mentalfloss]

It seems to me a fundamental flaw within the party. Conservatives always argue for less government and less government control, yet the social conservatives, within the same party, seem to want to be able to tell everyone exactly how they should be living. That does not make sense to me, either you advocate less control or more.

Fiscal conservatives don't really promote less government either. If they did we wouldn't have taxes - personal or corporate.