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Meanwhile, Conservatives rallied around Harder, saying her personal views wouldn’t preclude her from being able to do the job. So did pro-life groups, who argued many women in Canada disagree with abortion and having pro-choice views shouldn’t be a requirement for a parliamentary role.

So when the gavel came down Tuesday, Conservative MP Karen Vecchio nominated Harder again. Liberals asked for a vote, and, with Malcolmson’s support, knocked down the nomination. Instead, Liberal vice-chair Pam Damoff moved Vecchio should be the chair.

“Although I appreciate the nomination, I would like to back down from that nomination, if possible,” Vecchio said. Procedurally, this would require the consent of the committee and she didn’t get it. Liberals and NDP voted together to make her the chair despite her own objections, and Vecchio quickly adjourned the meeting.

“For Justin Trudeau to say a Member of Parliament is unfit to hold a procedural position because she doesn’t agree with his personal position is ridiculous,” reads a joint statement released by Vecchio and Harder following the committee meeting.

“It’s disappointing that Justin Trudeau would act this way and his actions demonstrate the intolerance of the Liberal Party of Canada, which claims to value diversity.”

Still, the statement continues, “Conservatives accept the democratic will of the committee.”

The Liberals waited a week so Conservative leader Andrew Scheer could “rethink his choice,” Damoff said after the committee meeting. Liberals require their MPs to take pro-choice stances in votes, while Conservatives allow their MPs to vote however they want on conscience issues.