Fears of a split in the Conservative party have been laid to rest with delegates at a policy convention overwhelmingly rejecting a contentious constitutional change.

The resolution, proposed by Conservative MP Scott Reid, called for Western ridings to get more weighting -- and more delegates because of their greater membership numbers.

The proposal passed in principle on Friday morning but didn't make it through the formal vote Saturday. The vote count wasn't tallied because it was so heavily against the resolution.

The proposal would have drastically changed how delegates are chosen for the party's convention. It also flew in the face of the merger agreement that united the former Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance parties in December 2003.

Deputy Leader Peter MacKay, who was the final leader of the PCs, was furious with the proposal.

"This party is in real jeopardy in my view," a visibly upset MacKay said earlier Saturday. "For me, this was a deal-breaker."

"This party would not have come together without assurances of equality of ridings," MacKay said.

MacKay wasn't the only one angry with Reid's motion. Former House leader John Reynolds said "Scott (Reid) is, as you know, an individual who does things on his own, and I don't support what he did this morning."

Reid, however, said his resolution changes nothing.

"I was one of the negotiators and the fact is, the deal is being honoured in every conceivable way," he told CTV News.

CTV's chief parliamentary correspondent Craig Oliver suggests the proposal "was really about personality conflict (between leader) Stephen Harper and MacKay which has finally broke out into the open."

The Conservative Party was formed in a merger of the Progressive Conservative Party, led by MacKay and of the Canadian Alliance, led by Harper. Harper became the new leader.

Members of the old PC party pushed for a deal because they were smaller in number than the Alliance and feared being swamped by the Alliance's more conservative Western power base during future votes on its leadership and on policy issues.

In its constitution, the Conservatives clearly spell out that delegates will be chosen in "an equal number not exceeding 10 from each electoral district association elected in such number and in such manner as determined by National Council." One of those 10 delegates has to be a youth delegate, to reflect young peoples' participation in the party.

Now, however, the push is on for a more weighted system, which would mean more western people at national conventions, than, say, people from other parts of the country.

That would include Quebec where the convention is being held, but where no Conservative MPs were elected in last June's federal election.

Headache for Harper

MacKay's comments are adding to the sense the convention is already creating unexpected and unwanted problems for Harper.

As well, Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant has also created some controversy. She drew protests at the convention over a leaflet passed out to her constituents that asked, "Is Christianity under attack?"

The leaflet reprinted comments she made last December in the House of Commons.
When asked by reporters about the leaflet, Harper said, "I'll let Cheryl Gallant explain those remarks herself."

Part of the convention will include a vote on Harper's leadership. CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Bob Fife says Harper's advisors are downplaying expectations.

"Harper's people do not think he's going to do as well as Paul Martin did two weekends ago when he won 88 per cent of the vote from the Liberal Party (at its national convention)," Fife said.

"A lot of people are hoping he will be able to at least come in the low 80s, giving him a strong message that he can show the party does trust him."

The converse, Fife said, would be a result in the 70s which "would send the wrong message to the country that he hasn't got the leadership abilities.