A split vote to a couple of suggestions from the Thunder Bay-Rainy River Conservative Riding Association to the party’s national convention.
The event was held virtually.
One proposal to limits on the number of youth delegates was narrowly defeated.
While noting the importance of the youth presence at the convention, the Association felt the number of youth should not outnumber the number of adults attending. It suggested a cap of one youth for every three adults.
One delegate, 16-year-old Daniel Blackmore of Newfoundland, suggested it created an unfair limitation on attendance.
“No matter the age of a delegate, they should be able to attend without a ratio cap. Otherwise, we’re stymying attendance and replacement arbitrary limit on delegates for no good reason,” says Blackmore.
The proposal was rejected by 54 per cent of members.
The Riding Association was successful in its call for a national adoption policy.
Eighty-two per cent of members agreed.
In its submission, the Association’s Tom Baxter noted there is now a gap between babies available in Canada and ways for birth mothers to find loving adoptive families.
“The cost of care services far exceeds the cost to adopt a child into a good family, so a national adoption strategy with education, tools and tax incentives is the loving choice,” Baxter stated.
Some members who voted against the proposal, feeling tax incentives were not required.
