Teen Tory stresses social conservative credentials
VINELAND, ONT.— A teenage Tory touted his social conservative credentials at an all-candidates’ debate Monday night, saying he hopes Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown will allow him to vote with his conscience.
“I am 100-per-cent pro-life,” 19year-old Sam Oosterhoff told a standing-room-only meeting at Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club with six others vying to represent Niagara West-Glanbrook in the Nov. 17 byelection.
“I’m very proud of the PC Party having a long-standing tradition of allowing open votes on matters of deeply held conscience,” Oosterhoff added in response to a question from the crowd, asking candidates how they would vote if they were opposed to a motion or a piece of legislation.
Oosterhoff, nominated with support from the religious right as the party’s candidate to replace former MPP and party leader Tim Hudak, said he would listen to the opinions of his constituents on issues.
He also spoke out about Premier Kathleen Wynne’s sex-education curriculum, which Brown now says his party supports, saying the government did not consult with enough parents.
Given Oosterhoff’s self-described “pro-family” beliefs against abortion and sex education, Brown’s office has been shielding him from Queen’s Park media. While Brown has three times promised the Star he would arrange for Oosterhoff to be interviewed, the Tory leader’s office has ignored more than a dozen emails requesting one.