ANALYSIS: Conservatives More Willing to Speak on Touchy Social Issues, as Electorate Signals Support

After federal Tory candidate Jamil Jivani won the recent byelection in Ontario’s Durham riding, his speech targeted not only the rival Liberals but also, unexpectedly, Ontario’s ruling Progressive Conservatives. He is especially critical of the “anti-racism” taught in Ontario schools. Race and gender are among sensitive topics federal and provincial conservatives alike had often been reluctant to speak strongly about in the past. But that has been changing, with senior Conservative leaders speaking up more on these touchy social issues in recent months. For example, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre made an unusually strong statement on gender identity when he told reporters on Feb. 7 that he is against minors receiving puberty blockers. His party’s grassroots members are behind him on this issue, as signalled by resolutions they passed at the party’s convention in September last year....