Ambrose calls for Tory solidarity as rifts widen

HALIFAX • Rona Ambrose called on Conservatives to remain united Tuesday as the party’s leadership contest ramps up and MPs prepare for the fall parliamentary sitting — but some early rifts between candidates indicate this could be difficult.

Caucus solidarity will be tested as more candidates enter the leadership race and stake out policies that are sometimes at odds with each other and offside with many fellow MPs.

The friction was evident Tuesday on the issue of Kellie Leitch’s proposed “values” test for immigrants, with other leadership candidates suggesting her policy “is not responsible leadership.”

The contest is quickly moving into a new phase after Peter MacKay’s announcement Monday he won’t run. On Tuesday, former Commons speaker Andrew Scheer took the next step in what will almost certainly be a leadership bid, announcing his resignation as Opposition House leader.

The race is dominating hallway discussion among Conservative MPs and senators at their two-day caucus retreat in Halifax.

Speaking to the gathering, Ambrose stressed the importance of the caucus remaining united.

“Whether new or veteran (parliamentarians), I know we all understand the importance of speaking with one united voice,” she said.

“We’re all realists here. We know that drama drives ratings, that those outside of our party will do everything they can to separate us into separate camps. And friends, our party has been there before, a long, long time ago, and we have no intention of going back.”

Declared leadership candidate Deepak Obhrai, dean of the Conservative caucus, said past leadership races in the Reform, Canadian Alliance and Conservative parties were “very divisive — and it hurts.”

Candidates should respectfully disagree on policy differences, he said although he acknowledged divisions in caucus were likely to emerge.

“With such a number of candidates running, in the caucus by itself, there is already division, who’s supporting whom and whatnot, and how,” Obhrai said.

“But at the end of the day, you have to come together.”

Meanwhile, Leitch’s proposal that immigrants and refugees could be screened for “anti-Canadian values” is creating rifts between her and other candidates.

Leadership hopefuls Michael Chong and Brad Trost took aim at her proposal as poorly thought out and a dangerous road to go down.

“If you frame the debate in negative terms and play to people’s dark fears about immigration, that’s not constructive and that is not responsible leadership,” Chong said.

Trost also didn’t hold back, saying it remains to be seen whether Leitch’s proposal could split the party.

“I don’t think she really thought out what she was doing,” he said.