Reflections on my first Canada Strong and Free Conference and the Danger of Conservative Purity Tests
If we spend our time judging each other’s credentials, we lose sight of what really matters.
This past week, I had the privilege of attending my very first Canada Strong and Free Conference (CSFN) in Calgary. I came away not only encouraged by the energy in the conservative movement, but also reminded of a critical challenge we must confront if we want to keep building momentum: the temptation of purity politics.
A Movement That’s Growing
From the moment I walked into the conference, eager to let folks know I was from British Columbia, the enthusiasm for the Conservative Party of B.C. was undeniable. People spoke highly of John Rustad’s leadership, they were glad to see us represented, and they were eager to help bring common sense back to B.C
I also met people from all political backgrounds, former NDPers and Liberals who like me, didn’t so much leave the left as much as the left LEFT us. They were compassionate, principled, and frustrated by the same failed policies we see hurting our communities every day.
What We’re Seeing on the Ground
The stories I heard echoed what we see back home:
Compassionate drug policies that have devastated families and neighbourhoods.
Soft-on-crime laws that leave businesses and citizens vulnerable.
Economic illiteracy that robs young people of opportunity to build careers, buy homes, and raise families.
These are the real consequences of bad policy. And it’s exactly why so many are looking to conservatives for answers.
The Trap of Purity Politics
But here’s the danger: as conservatives, we risk undermining our own cause when we fall into the trap of purity politics, branding some as “real conservatives” and others as not.
That’s exactly the sort of politics we’ve watched the left embrace for years. The NDP and their activist idealogues have turned disagreement into betrayal. They shut down and cancel discussion and silence dissenting voices through what are essentiall modern-day star chambers on social media.
The term comes from the infamous Star Chamber court in 15th- and 16th-century England. It was a secret tribunal, operating behind closed doors, where people could be accused, judged, and punished without transparency, fairness, or the ability to defend themselves. Over time, “star chamber” came to symbolize any system where shadowy elites and figures dictate who is in and who is out, where power is wielded not through persuasion or debate, but through fear and exclusion.
That’s what we see in progressive politics today: a culture where loyalty is policed, dissent is punished, and gatekeepers decide who counts as “authentic.”
We can’t make the same mistake.
If conservatism is going to succeed and draw new energy to the movement, it must be a movement rooted in liberty and freedom, open, self-reflective, and willing to debate ideas. Gatekeeping doesn’t make us stronger; it shrinks the tent and weakens our cause.
Leaving Calgary With Hope
I left Calgary encouraged by the recognition that conservatism is growing, and hopeful because I saw people from all walks of life eager to be part of it. But I also left determined: we cannot squander this momentum by turning inward and creating hierarchies of righteousness.
Our strength lies in our openness, in our ability to debate vigorously, and in our willingness to welcome those who are ready to build a better future for their families, their communities, and their province.
That’s how we win. And that’s how we deliver the change British Columbia, and Canada, so desperately needs.