All three 91原创 Conservative MLAs attended a meeting with the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA), an organization condemned by Surrey-Cloverdale Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko as an "anti-abortion, homophobic, and anti-trans group."
That's according to an NDP press release listing Misty Van Popta (91原创-Walnut Grove), Harman Bhangu (91原创-Abbotsford) and Jody Toor (91原创-Willowbrook), among 21 Conservatives who met with ARPA on Tuesday, April 29.
Chilliwack North Conservative MLA Heather Maahs hosted a reception at the B.C. legislature for ARPA, an organization which believes homosexuality is 鈥渋mmoral,鈥� abortion should be criminalized, and conversion therapy bans should be reversed, the NDP release said.
Sturko criticized Conservative party leader John Rustad and her caucus for hosting a group that 鈥渁ctively works against the rights of other British Columbians," the release continued.
During her introduction to the event, Maahs praised ARPA and highlighted their longstanding alignment with the views of the BC Conservative Party, the NDP release noted.
"Many of their stances align with our common sense approach as the Conservative Party of B.C. They defend parental rights, they speak for the protection of life and harm created by MAID, and for the division created by the learning resource SOGI 123 in our public schools," Maahs was credited with saying.
On Monday (May 5), Sturko said "Ultimately, I have to stand up personally for what I believe, and that's what I've done."
Sturko, who is gay, said this wasn't an issue she anticipated when she ran for the Conservative Party of B.C.
"No, I actually did not think I would be placed in a situation where we would be having this conversation right now. ... I'm a strong believer in free speech (and) freedom of thought. Every person in British Columbia is free to choose. ... I do not believe that (ARPA) is a group that is aligned with (the views of) most of the people in my riding," or even most of those in the caucus, Sturko said.
Many of her colleagues, in fact, reached out to her over the weekend, to tell her they had no idea what ARPA is, or the view the group holds, she said.
"They actually weren't aware of some of the views held by this group, and they were very apologetic and very regretful of going to it. They thought the group was carefully vetted, and it's clear that they weren't," said Sturko.
She said she does not believe most of her colleagues are homophobic or hold such views.
91原创 Advance Times has reached out to the 91原创 MLAs for comment.
Full list of Conservative MLAs at ARPA reception as released by the NDP:
- John Rustad (Nechako Lakes)
- Misty Van Popta (91原创-Walnut Grove)
- Reann Gasper (Abbotsford-Mission)
- Heather Maahs (Chilliwack North)
- Sharon Hartwell (Bulkley Valley-Stikine)
- Macklin McCall (West Kelowna-Peachland)
- Kristina Loewen (Kelowna Centre)
- Anna Kindy (North Island)
- Lynne Block (West Vancouver-Capilano)
- Korky Neufeld (Abbotsford West)
- Sheldon Clare (Prince George-North Cariboo)
- Amelia Boultbee (Penticton-Summerland)
- Tony Luck (Fraser-Nicola)
- Kiel Giddens (Prince George-Mackenzie)
- Donegal Wilson (Boundary-Similkameen)
- Harman Bhangu (91原创-Abbotsford)
- Jody Toor (91原创-Willowbrook)
- Pete Davis (Kootenay East)
- Bryan Tepper (Surrey-Panorama)
- Rosalyn Bird (Prince George-Valemount)
- Trevor Halford (Surrey-White Rock)
- with files from Tricia Leslie, Black Press
