Juno News - March 22, 2022


Roman Baber on unifying the Conservative Party


Episode Stats

Length

2 minutes

Words per Minute

155.29066

Word Count

317

Sentence Count

15


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 When you look at the spectrum that exists within the Conservative Party of Canada, we often hear the line, the big blue tent, and you've got your libertarians, your social conservatives, your rural conservatives, any form of conservative or centrist really can be under that, and the party takes great pride in that.
00:00:19.820 Where do you see yourself personally in that? Because a lot of people outside of Ontario might not be familiar with you. Where do you place yourself in that big blue tent?
00:00:28.100 Andrew, I think the description Democratic-Conservative fits that most, because that description would encompass all the other spectrums and welcome all other spectrums that you speak of.
00:00:41.860 Folks generally know that on economic issues and on foreign affairs matters, I come from what you would refer to as the blue side of the party.
00:00:52.160 On social issues, however, I've always been on record that I don't believe the government has a role in telling people how to start their family or how to grow their family.
00:01:02.840 I'm also pro-medical choice. That's why, even though I'm voluntarily vaccinated, I have opposed vaccine passports, vaccine mandates.
00:01:10.900 I've brought legislation to the provincial parliament to outlaw mandates, which the Doug Ford Progressive Conservative Party voted down on second reading.
00:01:22.120 And so I'm in favor of people making their own medical decisions.
00:01:27.320 So those can coexist.
00:01:29.260 At the same time, I would welcome social conservatives by respecting their democratic rights to run and contest nominations, to introduce legislation.
00:01:38.860 Who am I, even as a leader of a party, or as the leader of the party in the House, to tell a member of parliament that their sacred right to introduce legislation is usurped?
00:01:50.900 No way.
00:01:52.200 Libertarian conservatives, I've always been in favor of choice.
00:01:55.420 It works both ways.
00:01:56.980 And all of that goes back, Andrew, to democracy, to respecting our choices and respecting our views.