SoCons need not apply?!

It's been just few days since Garth Turner has joined the Liberals. He wasn't the first "Red Tory" to be elected as a Conservative who ended up crossing the floor to the Liberals. Too bad that it seems like the senior officials in the Conservative Riding Associations have learned nothing from the story. Some of them obviously still favor the "Red Tories" over the Social Conservatives.

Same as John Pacheco, a Social Conservative, wasn't allowed to seek Conservative nomination in Ottawa West - Nepean about 2 years ago, Heather Stilwell wasn't allowed to run for nomination in a BC riding of Newton - North Delta. Heather Stilwell is a prominent advocate for the right to life and the traditional family. That's too Conservative for the Riding Association members who seem to believe that Conservatism stands for nothing but lower taxes. Mrs. Stilwell used to lead the Christian Heritage Party for a couple of years. Christian Heritage? For some of the party officials that's like a red rag to a bull. Heather's application was rejected.

Unlike John Pacheco, whose rejection was open, Mrs. Stilwell's application was rejected under cover of technicality. The police didn't mail the original certificate of good conduct on time and the riding association decided that a facsimile copy is not enough. The nomination meeting is still three weeks from now - so what? The deadline has passed, better luck next time.

Those supporting the EDA position claim that Conservative party is looking forward to win majority and therefore we should filter out "controversial" candidates and nominate those that are "electable". But Heather Stilwell is one of the longest currently serving trustees on the Surrey School Board. Somehow Heather's Social Conservative views didn't prevent her from getting elected back in 1990 and winning several reelections since then. Mrs. Stilwell was the founding president of a local Merchants' Association, and ran a small business in Surrey. If the nomination committee was looking for a candidate with name recognition and diverse political experience, Heather would be more than welcome. But it seems like the Conservative EDA in Newton - North Delta had different objectives.

What exactly? Not sure if their goal is just to keep the Social Conservatives out or if they are trying to reserve the riding for yet another veteran "Red Tory". But they better remember that expelling Larry Spencer from the caucus wasn't enough to make Joe Clark support the merger. That attempts to silence outspoken pro-lifers like Cheryl Gallant didn't stop Belinda Stronach from crossing the floor. That denying Conservative nomination to John Pacheco didn't make Garth Turner respect Harper's leadership. That all the most recent backstabbings came from the "Red Tories" and there will be plenty of them to come if the Riding Associations keep nominating Red Tories instead of letting the true Conservatives represent the party.

Update as of Feb.12, 20:45 AST Heather Stilwell is back in the race thanks to the Life Site News raising awareness of the issue and many Social Conservatives who took the time to contact the party and express their outrage. Good luck, Heather! We need you in the House of Commons!