The Alliance could never form a government without the Tories, thus the merger. However, the month of January has the old
tories wondering what the hell is going on.
DAN DUGAS
OTTAWA (CP) - Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's position on gay marriage may play well with most of his MPs on the surface, but it exposes deep divisions that remain after the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative wedding.
While former Alliance members appear comfortable with Harper's decision to launch an ad campaign against same-sex marriage, many ex-Tories are decidedly uncomfortable. Marie-Josee Lapointe, former press secretary to Tory Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, calls Harper's stance "bad strategy that's left me completely flabbergasted."
"Have we no respect for the rule of law? . . . We are supposed to be the party that stands for the rights of individuals. Times have changed and it's time we changed with them."
Lapointe, whose public relations company is doing work for social groups opposed to the Conservative position, said the courts have made clear what their interpretation of the law is and Harper should accept that.
"The ad says: 'Where do you draw the line?' How about right here, Mr. Harper?" she said.
"We've found a way to divide the nation when we should be looking at ways of uniting it."
There are also doubts in Atlantic Canada, where the four provinces are run by Conservative premiers.
"This is bizarre, way out there," said a senior adviser to Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm.
Hamm has not spent five minutes on the issue, nor has it ever come up in any meaningful way, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"The strategy has got our political people just shaking their heads. Is this where you draw the line, really? How about dealing with issues that really affect our lives."
Harper's strategy has also raised concerns on another level as well.
His decision to launch the ads without consulting his deputy leader, Nova Scotia MP Peter MacKay, reignited talk in some circles about just how involved former Progressive Conservatives are in the new party's direction.
MacKay has said the ads took him by surprise.
Harper has also drawn criticism for musing that gay marriage could lead to legalized polygamy.
Tory Brad Green, New Brunswick's attorney general, moved quickly to dispel that suggestion, but he would not pass judgment on Harper's tactics.
"Polygamy is not an issue I have heard raised by anyone in the province of New Brunswick," he said.