Behind closed doors, Conservatives hatched a strategy to move past conversion therapy controversy

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This article was published 01/12/2021 (1699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA—A Conservative plan to defuse the ticking political time bomb that was the Liberals’ latest bill to ban conversion therapy came together over two intense days of deliberation and a clear message from Erin O’Toole to his caucus: we need to move on.

Although dozens of them are on the record as opposing the ban, Conservative MPs unanimously asked the House of Commons to pass the bill in a single step Wednesday, a move that came just minutes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau castigated them for voting against it the last time around.

The political acrimony evaporated upon all-party consent for the Conservatives’ motion, with the House of Commons erupting in cheers and Liberals crossing the aisle to wrap their opposition counterparts in warm hugs on what many later called a fantastic day for LGBTQ rights.

“It’s an important day for Canadians. It’s an important day to be who you are. It’s an important day to love who you want to love,” said a jubilant Justice Minister David Lametti after the vote.

Conversion therapy refers to the widely discredited practice of attempting to change the sexual orientation of LGBTQ individuals to heterosexual, or to coerce those questioning their gender identity to be in alignment with the sex assigned to them at birth.

The bill — which was just introduced on Monday — was the Liberal government’s third attempt at a ban. Its first bill died last year when Trudeau prorogued Parliament, and the second had not passed the Senate when Trudeau triggered the election.

The fact that half the Conservative caucus opposed the bill became a political wedge issue during that campaign despite O’Toole’s pro-LGTBQ views. The Tory platform even included a promise to introduce a ban of its own.

But during their caucus Wednesday, Conservative MPs told the Star, the point was made that most of them had already had the chance to raise their concerns with the bill in the last Parliament — and while they might still have concerns about the government’s legislation, they could also agree that conversion therapy itself should be banned.

So why fall prey to a Liberal wedge issue, MPs were told, according to one account of the discussion Wednesday.

O’Toole emerged from the meeting to accuse Trudeau of “using the LGBTQ community in a way that’s not appropriate politically.”

“I’m a long-time ally of the community,” the Conservative leader told reporters. “We’re going to move to accelerate passage of this bill.”

How many Tory MPs were inclined to vote against the bill this time was unclear. Nine who opposed it in Parliament’s last session weren’t re-elected. At least one new Conservative MP — former leadership contender Leslyn Lewis — was on the record as being very opposed to the legislation.

Lewis’s supporters in the leadership race ultimately threw their votes behind O’Toole, largely on the strength of his promise that he’d always respect and listen to their views.

He’s fought ever since to cast off the idea he’s beholden to that wing of the party even as some high-profile members of that wing have also begun to turn on him in recent weeks, and did again on Wednesday.

“O’Toole is unfit to lead, and everyday he proves that time and again,” Alissa Golob, co-founder of the anti-abortion group Right Now, posted on social media just after the vote, urging MPs to start speaking up publicly against his leadership and endorse a petition by Sen. Denise Batters to oust him.

The bill won’t necessarily have an easy ride in the Senate; Conservative House Leader Gerard Deltell said Wednesday it will be up to senators to decide how to handle the legislation and whether to speed it along as well.

The current bill goes beyond the government’s previous attempts by making it a crime to make anyone undergo conversion therapy, even if they consent.

The original bill allowed the practice for consenting adults, despite criticism that a person can’t properly consent to what amounts to fraud and torture.

The bill passed Wednesday would also make it a crime to remove a child from Canada for the purpose of conversion therapy, to promote or advertise the practice, or to receive financial “or other material benefit” from providing conversion therapy.

It would also allow courts to order that advertisements for conversion therapy be removed.

With files from Jacques Gallant

Stephanie Levitz is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @StephanieLevitz