Conservatives kick off virtual policy convention

The federal Conservatives have kicked off a historic policy convention — not with balloons or rousing cheers, but with instructions on how to click the right links.

Tomorrow's the day! I'm speaking at the Conservative Party Convention to share our vision to secure Canada's future. I'll be live at 5:15 PM EDT. Tune in! pic.twitter.com/1YNO7PNVIw

— Erin O'Toole (@erinotoole) March 18, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the event entirely online, and while robust debate is expected on the party's policy and governance, it will be hard to find the raucous spirit that normally takes over a convention floor.

But outgoing party president Scott Lamb sought to rally the attendees anyway, saying the party was in good financial shape, has a strong membership base and is ready to take on the Liberals in the next election.

Figuring out which policies they will champion on the campaign trail is part of the debate at the convention, with ideas that include giving the federal ethics commissioner more power to punish MPs, a tougher approach to China and improvements to the party's current stance on climate change.

The marquee event will be a speech from Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole on Friday night, his first address to the party's grassroots since he won leadership last year.

The opening elements of the convention also featured an appearance by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, who paid tribute to the former head of the party's fundraising arm, Irving Gerstein.