National News Watch has obtained leaked copies of policy proposal documents to be distributed to delegates next week at the Conservative Party of Canada's second policy convention.

As is my custom, you'll find them all attached to this post, along with CPC constitutional amendments obtained from the party's web site, for future reference.

It should be noted that Harper's illegal election had an impact on the internal workings of the Conservative Party as it resulted in the choice of policy and constitutional resolutions to be debated in open session to be made by a small number of people that constitute the party's National Council.

More to the point why, any rational observer will wonder, would Conservative members bother paying up big dollars to travel to a convention in Winnipeg only to spend their weekend locked in a convention centre discussing policies that their Leader doesn't feel obligated to abide by?

Conservative Party spokesman Ryan Sparrow played down the potential impact of the convention resolutions on government decisions. "They're just like any other consultation you would have with any stakeholder group," he said, confirming the government will not be bound by the Winnipeg decisions. (Globe and Mail)

Stephen Harper has repeatedly ignored or made decisions completely contradictory to party policy in the past. Members are fooling themselves if they believe their prescriptions hold any sway over the PM, for in Stephen Harper's eyes party members, like all Canadians, are merely obstacles to be overcome.

We'll return to the Conservative policy fest over the coming week as there is much more to review and say.