Conservative candidates dive deeper during debate
OTTAWA (CP) — Candidates for leadership of the federal Conservative party went four rounds Friday in a debate aimed at providing an opportunity for a deep dive into policy.
But the cut-and-thrust of politics remained on display even as the format of having 14 people on stage at once was dissolved into smaller groups of candidates debating specific policy themes, one group at a time.
The debate at the Manning Conference saw the contenders appear before a crowd of the conservative movement’s most ardent advocates and activists, self-described political junkies eager to shell out the cash to spend a weekend debating ideology and brushing up on political marketing tactics.
So when Deepak Obhrai lashed out at Kevin O’Leary’s apparent lack of knowledge over how transfer payments are doled out to the provinces — O’Leary threatened to cut them for any province with a carbon tax — raucous cheering ensured.
“Mr. O’Leary, you need to know the Constitution of Canada,” Obhrai said.
And equally raucous boos greeted candidate Michael Chong’s spirited defence of a carbon tax as the way forward for environment policy, a nearly heretical point of view within party circles.
Maxime Bernier’s position on ending supply management — another sacred policy position for Tories — drew fire his way.
Lisa Raitt said she felt Bernier hadn’t thought it through and the impact it would actually have on consumers and farmers.
“You don’t know the math associated with your own economic plan,” said Raitt.
Unlike the official debates organized by the party or the informal ones that have been organized by MPs and riding associations, the Manning conference gave candidates the chance to woo the party’s thinkers and influencers from across the country.
Proving their conservative credentials was key and O’Leary — who many have grumbled isn’t a true conservative — made sure to invoke the name of a conservative many hold dear, Sir John A. Macdonald. He likened the railways built by Canada’s first prime minister to the pipelines of today.
O’Leary took punches for how much time he’s spent outside the country — members of Raitt’s team had a person in the lobby dressed in an Uncle Sam outfit with a massive O’Leary cardboard face.
“He needs to bring people in to the party to win, he’s not going to pick up or steal anyone’s support here,” said delegate Jacob Rabinowitz.
The candidates debate again next week at a party-organized event in Edmonton, and party members elect the next leader in May.