(Ottawa) Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole will once again allow his caucus a free vote on a government bill to ban conversion therapy.
So-called therapies are widely discredited as harmful practices, aimed at trying to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Earlier this week, the Liberals introduced a bill for the third time in the House of Commons to make these practices illegal.
A second version of the legislation died on the Order Paper in the Senate when the federal election was called and Parliament dissolved last August.
It was passed by the House of Commons, however, where 62 of Mr. O’Toole’s 119 MPs voted against the bill, despite the leader’s efforts to show a more progressive stance on LGBTQ issues.
At that time, many Conservative MPs complained that the wording of the bill was too broad and could criminalize conversations about sexuality between children and their parents or with religious leaders.
The vote sparked an uproar, with critics accusing Mr. O’Toole of failing to live up to his more progressive rhetoric on LGBTQ issues.
Faced with another vote on the issue soon, a spokeswoman for Mr O’Toole confirmed that he would allow a free vote again, but added that he “has long been an ally of the LGBTQ community and will continue to do so. to support efforts to ban conversion therapy ”.
“He will also continue to highlight the fact that the Liberals have failed three times to act quickly on this issue,” wrote O’Toole’s director of communications Josie Sabatino.
“While the bill will go to a free vote, all Conservative MPs oppose the coercive and harmful practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity,” a- she added.
Allowing MPs to vote as they see fit on matters of conscience has been Mr. O’Toole’s stance since becoming leader of the party, which includes a significant number of MPs from his social conservative wing.
The founder of advocacy group No Conversion Canada, Nicholas Schiavo, said federal leaders should ensure the bill is passed unanimously to send a clear message to LGBTQ Canadians that conversion therapy is unacceptable. He called Mr. O’Toole’s decision to allow a free vote disappointing.
“You are putting the lives of LGBTQ2 Canadians at risk for a debate,” he denounced. And you agree to debate their fundamental freedoms. ”
“I do not believe that you can hold votes of conscience on unacceptable issues,” he added. It is a failure of leadership. ”
A spokesperson for the New Democrats confirmed that all members of the political party would vote in favor of the ban.
Mr Schiavo said Michelle Rempel Garner, a well-known Conservative MP who has long championed LGBTQ rights, agreed to meet with them. His group is hoping that two openly gay Conservative MPs – Eric Duncan and Melissa Lantsman – will also move the issue forward.
Mr. O’Toole’s MPs will have the opportunity to discuss the legislation when they meet in Ottawa on Wednesday for their weekly national caucus meeting.
They are also due to discuss another government bill related to COVID-19. The two-part bill would grant 10 days of paid sick leave to federally regulated workers and create two new Criminal Code offenses for anyone who threatens a healthcare worker or obstructs access to a healthcare facility.
The latter measures are in response to anti-vaccine protests outside hospitals and clinics, but they would also apply to facilities where abortions are performed.
The Liberals have long used abortion to drive a political wedge with the Conservatives, the September federal election campaign being the most recent example.
The Campaign Life Coalition, a national anti-abortion organization, has previously warned that the bill could restrict free speech for those who want to publicly oppose the procedure.
Longtime Ontario backbench MP Cheryl Gallant also said in a recent video posted to social media that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wanted a “ban on demonstrations” and wondered “what type of event will then be prohibited ”.
A statement from Erin O’Toole’s office suggests that the Conservatives plan to support the bill. Butme Sabatino did not respond to a question about whether the party line will be imposed.
She said the Conservatives support existing Criminal Code measures that protect healthcare workers and “will also support new measures proposed in (the bill) as well as paid sick leave provisions for all industries under federal regulations ”.
Mme Sabatino also pledged that a Conservative government would extend the legislation to “other public works and critical infrastructure.”
Erin O’Toole has in the past criticized blockades and organized protests against transport infrastructure, such as rail tracks.