Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives will not allow reporters to attend their annual gathering in Toronto this weekend, a move critics say projects an appearance of “weakness” and breaks from political norms.

The party’s director of communication says the event at the Toronto Congress Centre will be for party members only. The response comes after days of inquiries by CBC News to secure accreditation to the event.

“The Ontario PC Party Convention is a closed event and will not be open to media attendance,” spokesperson Peter Turkington said in a brief message to CBC News.