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OTTAWA — After controversial events were cancelled at two Toronto campuses this week, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer says universities have the right to determine which “outside groups” they give platforms to.

In an interview Friday, the National Post asked Scheer to clarify a policy idea floated during his leadership campaign: to make federal grant money for universities dependent on fostering a culture of freedom of speech on campus.

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“I respect the right for universities to determine which outside groups they give a platform to. And so that’s within their purview,” Scheer told the Post.

Photo by Darren Brown / Ottawa Citizen/Ottawa Sun

After Scheer narrowly won the Conservative mantle at the end of May, insiders from his campaign cited the policy as a reason he gained late traction in the race.

Prompting Scheer to propose the policy were apparent infringements on conservative voices being heard on campuses, an issue near and dear to his base.