Check It Out: Are people of all backgrounds welcome?

Here’s a quote by Bob the Minion, “Starting tomorrow whatever life throws at me, I’m ducking so it hits someone else.”

It’s a funny quote, but practically speaking, it may not work out. Words posted at a Holocaust Museum say: “First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the homosexuals, and I did not speak out, because I was not a homosexual. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.” You may see different versions of the quote, but the message remains the same - people were complicit in their silence.

In order to make a difference in our world, people need to speak up when it’s not always popular or acceptable to do so, rather than maintain one’s respectability. This became evident recently when MP Derek Sloan was ousted from the Conservative party.

The first effort to eliminate Sloan involved a donation of $131 which he had accepted from a man named Paul Fromm. Erin O’Toole declared Sloan had an intolerance for racism within the party. Fromm said, “I think somebody is out to get Sloan and are prepared to use just about anything.”

Other MPs expressed their concerns, as the party acknowledged vetting hundreds of thousands of supporters would be challenging, and even impossible. It appeared this initial attempt to oust Sloan had failed.

But then O’Toole said Sloan had a pattern of destructive behaviour, because he was encouraging supporters to get involved in the Conservative policy convention. However, there were numerous groups and individuals diligently encouraging Conservatives to get involved, participate, and register for the convention.

This was obvious, as over 3300 Conservatives registered for the first-ever virtual convention. This is a record over all past conventions, and shows that members care about the Party’s governance and want to help build a great platform that will help contribute to a healthy Canada going forward.

It was the direct result of people believing leaders should be challenged by the people in their ridings, and that people should use their influence to get things done. However Sloan’s encouragement to people to “be a presence at convention” was frowned upon by the party.

Prime Minister Trudeau said he’s pleased O’Toole is showing leadership. “Political parties need to remain vigilant, particularly in the wake of what we see in the United States, from the infiltration or the active presence of fringe or extremist or violent or unacceptable or intolerant elements,” the Prime Minister said at a news conference. “And that’s something that we constantly need to work towards as all politicians in Canada.”

Is O’Toole looking to receive respectability from Prime Minister Trudeau? O’Toole has said, “People of all backgrounds have a place in our party.” But on the other hand he penned a lengthy letter rejecting the “far right” in his Conservative party. But is it ‘his’ Conservative party, or the ‘people’s’ Conservative party?

Sloan isn’t the only PC who has been ousted from the Conservative party. MPP Roman Barber said, “I wrote a letter to Doug Ford, asking him to lift the lockdown. In response, I was removed the Ontario PC Caucus.”

What does the Conservative Party consider to be a “pattern of destructive behaviour”? Does it include expressing views contrary to those of Mr. O’Toole? Does it include expressing social conservative views and policies? Do politicians get to define what’s unacceptable?

The Conservatives don’t seem to have a clear definition for a “pattern of destructive behaviour”, but they do have a solution ... removal. What happens when many Conservatives find themselves looking around within the party and saying, “there’s no one left to speak for me”?