Conservative members at a policy workshop voted overwhelmingly in favour of advancing two anti-gender ideology resolutions on the convention floor, according to multiple sources.
This means the resolutions will be on the final voting list at plenary Saturday.
Resolution C-7, which was sponsored by the North Okanagan—Shuswap Conservative riding association, seeks party support for a ban on life altering and irreversible gender transitions for children and teenagers, while encouraging “positive mental and physical health support for all Canadians suffering from gender dysphoria and related mental health challenges.”
Resolution C-15, from the Edmonton–Strathcona Electoral District Association (EDA), seeks to add to the party’s policy declaration that “the Conservative Party of Canada believes that women are entitled to the safety, dignity, and privacy of single-sex spaces (e.g., prisons, shelters, locker rooms, washrooms) and the benefits of women-only categories (e.g., sports, awards, grants, scholarships).”
The resolution defines a woman as “(a) female person.”
A source told True North that resolution C-7 received 87% support at the workshop Friday afternoon, and C-15 received 82% support.
While very popular, the resolutions were still subject to heated debate.
A source provided True North with exclusive excerpts of delegates debating the resolution in a closed door workshop. The source asked True North to remain anonymous.
On resolution C-7 (opposing gender transitions for children), many delegates stated that children cannot consent to gender reassignment surgeries.
“We don’t allow children to drink, or drive, or engage in sexual activity, or join the military, or even vote before the age of adulthood,” one delegate said. “And the reason for this is widely understood by every adult in Canada. It is because children lack the capacity to fully understand the implications of major life decisions, including the ramifications of life expectancy on drugs and hormones.”
Another delegate said “we can’t let kids decide because our brains don’t even fully develop until our mid-20s, we need to stop this kind of brainwashing. If someone with schizophrenia comes up to me and tells me about their hallucinations, I don’t indulge their delusions. This is the same thing, they need therapy, they don’t need surgery and medications.”
A delegate against the motion claimed banning gender transitions for children was an affront to bodily autonomy and parental rights. The delegate was booed and heckled by others.
“I’d just like to state that for a party that seems so concerned about bodily autonomy and parental rights, it’s seeming like we’re awfully quick here to infringe here on decisions of private individuals,” the delegate said.
“I think this is a matter that’s best left up to an individual and a family, and I don’t believe that we’re going to see any benefit from passing such policies, especially electorally and within the public eye.”
Delegates also took part in passionate debate on the resolution supporting single sex spaces and defining a woman.
“I’m a woman, I’m a female person, we really need help, we really need help. Female-only zones and spaces are disappearing in Canada. It is neither safe nor fair,” said one delegate.
Another said, “I’ve lost count of the times I keep seeing women pushed out of spaces to appease confused biological men. Don’t be afraid of supporting this policy. Many people, if not most, support these sentiments. Women, we didn’t fight for this long to get it all taken away by deluded beliefs.”
Among delegates who opposed the motion, one said it was anti-trans – while others said they agreed with the policy but felt it was not appropriate for the party to adopt.
“I’m never pushed around by men, confused or not. I’m a woman, and I don’t need a government to tell me I’m a woman.” said one delegate.
“Furthermore, this is definitely anti-trans, and like my predecessor told me, let’s not confuse this, and let’s keep the Trudeau government on its heels, and let’s go after them and attack them, and not give them ammunition.”
Another noted “I respect the sentiment, again, I respect a lot of it, but I must say, this morning in the constitutional session, we passed something saying we believe in the provinces, that we respect the provinces.”
Elite coach Linda Blade, who sits on the Edmonton Strathcona EDA and authored the pro-women resolution, spoke to True North after the workshop.
“It is the common-sense crowd, and they voted with their common sense.” she said.
“They’re just rejecting the lies that the liberals tell about us. We are just wanting fairness and safety as women, and the conservatives could see that clearly.”
She said the vast majority of Canadians are in favour of sex-based rights and know the difference between a man and a woman.
As for concerns about backlash from Liberals and the legacy media if the resolution passes at plenary tomorrow – Blade said it is time to stop being afraid.
“My response to that is stop being afraid of the media because the media exists in a bubble, and I think that all the people who work in Ottawa exist in a little bit of a bubble.”
“Most Canadians have stopped listening to CBC and the left wing media.”
It should be noted that even if the policy resolutions pass at plenary Saturday, they are non-binding, meaning that leaders are not obligated to include them in the platform and a Conservative government would not have to enact them into law.
Nonetheless, official party policy has always been regarded as a useful tool to gauge where the party’s grassroots members are on key issues.
True North’s Andrew Lawton and Elie Cantin-Nantel will be on the ground at the Conservative Party of Canada convention to bring you independent coverage.
