The Conservative Party of Canada recently held its first ever policy convention in Montreal. At that convention, delegates adopted a series of resolutions on a raft of topics. These are the the resolutions adopted under the broad heading of democratic reform. (The headings were chosen by the party and the resolutions were placed in various groups by the party.) Reproduced below is each resolution in the broad grouping as it was voted on by delegates. All of the following were adopted or carried by at the convention. The acronym EDA in the following stands for Electoral District Association. The resolutions here are presented in the order in which they were presented to delegates. When the following documents talk about inserting new clauses or replacing new clauses, they are referring to modifying what's known as the “Base Document” — starting point for policy discussions put together by senior party officials in September, 2004.
Democratic Reform policies passed include:
P-16: Property Rights | P-6: Senate Reform | P-4 Ethics Commissioner | P-5 Supreme Court Judge Appointments | P-90: Free Votes | P-12 Electoral Reform – Recall | P-8 Electoral Reform – Citizens Assembly | P-9 Electoral Reform | P-13 Reform of the Federation | P-11: Electoral Reform – Initiative|
P-16 New Clause – Property Rights
It is moved that a new clause be added in Section C) as follows:
Property Rights
- A Conservative government will seek the agreement of the provinces to amend the Constitution to include this right, as well as guarantee that no person shall be deprived of their just right without the due process of law and full, just, and timely compensation.
- A Conservative government will enact legislation to ensure that full, just and timely compensation will be paid to all persons who are deprived of personal or private property as a result of any federal government initiative, policy, process, regulation or legislation.”
Moved by London RJPM. Similar resolutions moved by Durham , Eastern Ontario, and Alberta RJPMs and Prince George EDA.
P-6 Senate Reform
It is moved that the current Clause 9 be amended by adding a new subclause as follows:
“ii) Where the people of a Province or Territory by democratic election choose persons qualified to be appointed to the Senate, a Conservative government will fill any vacancy in the Senate for that Province or Territory from among those elected persons.”
Moved by Alberta RJPM. Similar resolutions moved by London RJPM, Kelowna-Lake Country EDA
P-4 Ethics Commissioner
It is moved that Clause 6 be replaced with the following:
Officers of Parliament
A Conservative government will ensure that senior officers such as the Auditor General, Chief Electoral Officer, Comptroller General, Ethics Commissioner, Information Commissioner, and Privacy Commissioner will be appointed by Parliament and report to it.”
Victoria-Saanich Gulf Islands RJPM
P-5 Supreme Court Judge Appointments
It is moved that the current Clause 8 be replaced with the following:
“A Conservative government will ensure that nominees to the Supreme Court of Canada will be ratified by a free vote in Parliament, after receiving the approval of the Justice Committee of the House of Commons.”
Moved by Greater Vancouver RJPM. Similar resolutions moved by Newmarket, Quebec, Manitoba, Southwestern Ontario and Northern Ontario RJPMs, Nanaimo-Alberni and Kootenay-Columbia EDA
P-90 – Free Votes
It is moved that the current Clause 7 be amended as follows:
“A Conservative government will restore democratic accountability in the House of Commons by allowing free votes. A Conservative government will make all votes free, except for the budget and main estimates. On issues of moral conscience, such as abortion, the definition of marriage and euthanasia, the party acknowledges the diversity of deeply held personal convictions among individual party members and the right of Members of Parliament to adopt positions in consultation with their constituents and to vote freely.”
Moved by National Caucus.
P-12 – Electoral Reform – Recall
It is moved that the current Clause 10 be amended by adding a new subclause:
“ii) A Conservative government will enact legislation to enable the recall of Members of Parliament.“
Moved by Alberta RJPM. Similar resolutions moved by Calgary RJPM, Dufferin-Caledon, Simcoe North, and Wild Rose EDAs.
P-8 Electoral Reform – Citizens Assembly
It is moved that the current Clause 10 be replaced with the following:
- A Conservative government will establish a non-partisan, independent Citizens' Assembly to consider changes to electoral systems including proportional representation, and the single transferable ballot;
- The assembly's recommendations, if any, will be put to a nation-wide referendum; and
- A Conservative government will establish fixed election dates every four years.”
Combined resolution reflecting Surrey and Greater Vancouver RJPMs. Similar resolutions moved by Calgary and Greater Toronto Area RJPMs
P-9 Electoral Reform
It is moved that the current Clause 10 be amended by adding a new subclause:
ii) In reviewing options for electoral reform, a Conservative government will not endorse any new electoral system that will weaken the link between MPs and their constituents, that will create unmanageably large ridings, or that will strengthen the control of the party machinery over individual MPs. A national referendum will be held prior to implementing any electoral reform proposal.”
Moved by National Caucus.
P-13 New Clause – Reform of the Federation
It is moved that a new clause be added in Section C) as follows:
Reform of the Federation
- A Conservative government will consider reforming Canadian federalism, taking into account
the need to consolidate Quebec 's position within the Canadian federation due to the province not signing the Constitution Act, 1982 , the need to alleviate the alienation felt by the citizens of the West; and the importance of building a long term partnership with aboriginal peoples. - The Conservative Party of Canada believes the new Council of the Federation is an important innovation in Canadian intergovernmental relations with the potential to improve collaboration among governments, while respecting regional diversity and flexibility within the federation. A Conservative government will support the work of the Council of the Federation and will encourage the development of better methods of interprovincial information sharing.”
Moved by Quebec RJPM.
P-11 Electoral Reform Initiative
It is moved that the current Clause 10 be amended by adding a new subclause:
ii) A Conservative government will consider bringing forward legislation to ensure that issues of national importance initiated by the electorate are placed on the ballot at the next federal election.”
Moved by Manitoba RJPM. Similar resolutions moved by Calgary , Alberta , Surrey RJPMs, Wild Rose, and Saskatoon-Wanuskewin EDAs.