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notyoueither
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of naught
Aug 2001
time: 22:36
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Like what just happened? Is the media hunting down NCon candidates and grilling them? Is there some habitual need to self destruct built into people who supported the CA?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe...ion2004&no_ads=
quote:
Conservative MP slips on party's hate law view
CTV.ca News Staff
The Conservative Party was buoyed by leader Stephen Harper's platform release Saturday, but comments by one of the party's MPs could be bringing it back down again.
In an interview with CTV News, Ottawa-area Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant said she thinks Canada's newly amended hate law -- which added "sexual orientation" to the list of groups protected from hate propaganda -- should be changed back.
"The danger in having sexual orientation just listed, that encompasses, for example, pedophiles," Gallant said.
"I believe that the caucus as a whole would like to see it repealed," she said.
The remark sent the Conservative Party swiftly into damage control mode. A party spokesperson said Gallant's comments were incorrect, and the Conservatives were not planning to move to repeal the act.
Conservative House leader John Reynolds told CTV's Question Period that Gallant was expressing her own beliefs, which she is free to do.
"During a campaign, candidates are going it make comments. These things happen," he said.
"Candidates will say things for whatever reason in their own riding. But it's not a major issue with our party."
Reynolds added that the party does not intend to seek to repeal the law.
"I'm the House leader and I've seen no line-up of letters in my office asking us to repeal that law. It's a bill that passed the House of Commons.
"She'll have every right to bring that up with a new caucus in Ottawa -- which will be greater in numbers. But it's certainly not something that is going to get us off an agenda."
This is not first controversial remark from Gallant. In April, 2002, Gallant was forced to apologize for a comment she made in the House of Commons, telling Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham to "Ask your boyfriend" about Mideast policy.
The remark was picked up by Commons microphones. After a firestorm of criticism, Gallant eventually released a statement saying the remark "was inappropriate."
The latest gaffe comes as the Conservatives face criticism, after certain MPs expressed contentious opinions on topics such as abortion, bilingualism, and the death penalty.
Last week, the party's health critic, Rob Merrifield, said in an interview with The Globe and Mail that mandatory counselling would be "valuable" for women considering aborting their pregnancies.
Harper was forced to reaffirm his party's position that a Conservative government would not introduce legislation to restrict access to abortion or hold a referendum on the issue. But he said he would not prevent a free vote on abortion if it arose in a private member's bill.
Later, Hamilton Mountain Conservative candidate Tom Jackson said he would like to see capital punishment return to Canada.
Again, Harper was forced to make the point that his government would not propose death penalty legislation.
Last month, Conservative Party Critic for Official Languages Scott Reid said bilingual services from coast to coast should be reconsidered. Reid also said he didn't think senior civil servants should have to be bilingual.
Harper defended the Conservative MP, saying he was just expressing a personal opinion. But he also had to assure voters that his party supports official bilingualism. Reid later resigned from his critic position. |
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07-06-2004 06:28
they should remove everything as a "protected minority" under hate laws. Hate laws 
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