Conservatives pledge funds, tip line to combat 'barbaric cultural practices'

Conservatives continued to focus on controversialissues of identity politics ahead of tonight's French-languageleaders debate, pledging that a re-elected Tory government would establish a tip line forreporting "barbaric cultural practices" to theRCMPand would increase fundsto help international organizationsfight against forced marriages of young girls.

Conservative candidates Chris Alexander and Kellie Leitch said during a news conference in Ajax, Ont., that in addition to a tip line, a Tory government would establish an integrated RCMP task force with units in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal to step up enforcement of theZero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, which received royal assent in June.

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If elected on Oct. 19, the Conservatives would also commit$12 million over four years to help international organizations working abroadto prevent forced marriages of girls and young women, particularlyin conflict zones, they said.

Money provided in the first year would be targeted at girls impacted by the ongoing violence in Syria and Iraq, especially those who have been forced to flee their home countries for refugee camps in neighbouring nations.

The changes also made itillegal to takea child or non-consenting adult out of Canada to have them married abroad and limitedthe use of provocation as a legal defence for so-called honour killings.

"The Conservative government is not afraid to defend Canadian values," Leitch said. "By contrast,Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair are more worried about political correctness than tackling these difficult issues that impact women."

Leitch pointed out that the new initiatives are in addition to $8 million already committed to theRCMP's anti-human trafficking units operating in largecities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. If re-elected, another $20 million would be provided to those units over the next five years.

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The announcement comes just hours ahead of the French-language leaders' debate tonight in Montreal, likely the last before voters go to the polls on Oct. 19. Cultural-identity issueswhich have become a primary focus of the campaign so far with the parties battling over the Tories' proposed ban on niqabsduring citizenship ceremoniesare expected to be a primary focus of the debate.

The Tories appear willing to make identity politics a key component of their campaign, especially in Quebec, where there is widespread support for the niqab ban. Alexander on Friday directly linked the new measures to enforce the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act to the niqab issue.

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"We need to stand up for our values," said Alexander. "We need to do that in citizenship ceremonies. We need to do that to protect women and girls from forced marriage and other barbaric practices."

The NDP voted against theZero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act in the Housewhile the Liberals under Justin Trudeauhave said that while they agree with the legislation in principle, its name could be considered offensive to people who hail from regions where these practices are common.