Stephen Harper normally tries to repress public expressions of social or religious conservatism in his party, but some of it escaped this week thanks to a rift among caucus members over a $400,000 government grant to Toronto's Gay Pride Parade.

Saskatchewan MP Brad Trost, in a report on the website LifeSiteNews.com, claimed his colleague Diane Ablonczy was relieved of her tourism portfolio after approving a grant to the Gay Pride Parade under the Marquee Tourism Events Program fund. "Diane is doing a good job," he wrote, "but she didn't handle all the details right on this file." Responsibility for the $100-million program has since been shifted to Industry Minister Tony Clement, though government officials say this is because Ablonczy's office wasn't equipped to handle the program.

Some MPs have since spoken publicly in support of the grant, while others reportedly worry that the issue could give them trouble in their socially conservative ridings. It's safe to say that for a number of Tory MPs themselves, already frustrated because they can't speak as candidly as they'd like on abortion, immigration and other cultural issues, the idea of funding gay pride parades doesn't sit well.

The truth is, gay pride parades are mainstream events these days, in big cities all over the world. In Toronto, the parade is a very big deal. If the purpose of these grants is to support successful, popular events that encourage tourism and boost the economy, there are few better candidates than Toronto's annual Pride Parade. Last year it brought in $91 million in tourist revenue, so the government got a decent return on the investment.

Of course, it's fair to ask whether governments should be in the festival-funding business in the first place. Are taxpayers getting value for their money? How is that measured? These are questions caucus members should debate, but their conclusions should apply not just to festivals that feature men in leather.

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