It’s time for Stephen Harper to march in a gay pride parade

Alberta's Alison Redford made history, on Sunday, becoming that province's first premier ever to march in Calgary's gay pride parade.

Earlier this summer Ontario's Kathleen Wynne, Quebec's Pauline Marois earned the same distinction in their respective provinces. And, federally, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau also chose to march.

But where are the high profile federal Conservatives?

While pride events across the country aren't totally void of Tories, their attendance is scarce.

[ Related: Pride Parade showers Montreal streets in colour ]

The Montreal Gazette's Don MacPherson recently suggested that "Harper’s party doesn’t want to alienate social conservatives" by participating in these parades that, in some cities, attract hundreds of thousands of people.

So, in other words, the Tories don't want to appear too gay-friendly?

If that's the case, the 'jig is up.'

[ Related: Toronto Pride festival at the heart of Canada’s gay rights movement ]

They haven't been perfect but if history is any indication, the Harper Tories are not anti-gay.

They have kept their promise not to reopen the same-sex marriage debate.

In recent years, they've been a strong advocate for protecting gay rights in the international community. Most recently, both Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird slammed Russia's anti-gay laws ahead of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.

Canada has also been proactive in the recent past in resettling gay refugees from transitional camps abroad.

Last year the Associated Press reported that Canada relocated approximately 100 homosexual Iranians from a refugee camp in Turkey.

"Canada has indicated to the United Nations that we are ready to accept anyone, if they're a gay Iranian refugee," former immigration minister Jason Kenney told AP referencing asylum claimants in Turkey who felt threatened because of their sexual orientation.

Moreover, the Tories — through various ministries — have actually funded many a pride event. All that's left now is to march in one.

[ Related: Thomas Mulcair, Christy Clark and other politicians let loose at Vancouver Pride parade ]

This summer, the prime minister introduced a new cabinet which included younger MPs and more women.

The shuffle was widely viewed as the government's reset heading into the 2015 election amid slumping poll numbers and the surging popularity of Justin Trudeau. The Harper government wants to appear fresher, less stale and, yes, perhaps even more progressive.

If they really want to appear like a newer version of the old Conservative party then, next summer, Stephen Harper should be the one making history.

He should be marching in Calgary's gay pride parade and be 'proud and loud' about his government's record on gay rights.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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