| |
|
 | |
| Current Leader: | John Lynch-Staunton (interim) |
| Founded: | December 7, 2003 |
| Headquarters: | Suite 1720 130 Albert Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 |
| Colours: | Blue |
| Political ideology: | conservative |
The merger was driven by the desire to present an effective right-wing opposition to the Liberal Party of Canada that would draw support from all parts of Canada, and would not split the right-wing vote. Existing members of the parties will have to rejoin.
Many believe this is the culmination of the Canadian "Unite the Right" movement.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Leadership Election 3 Party leaders 4 External links |
The merger process remains fraught with complications, however. David Orchard had a written agreement from Peter MacKay at the Conservative leadership convention for this very thing not to happen, [1] and is leading a Tory faction fighting the legality of the proposed merger. They say the Party constitution has no provision for dissolution, especially regarding assets. A court injuction seeking to prevent dissolution, however, was dismissed on December 5.
On November 27, critics of the merger were given additional ammunition when Larry Spencer of the Canadian Alliance made public statements stating his desire to recriminalize homosexual behaviour in Canada to combat what he claimed was a conspiracy by the homosexual community to infiltrate social institutions to recruit children into the "homosexual lifestyle". He was quickly denounced by numerous public figures including his own party leader, Stephen Harper, who also made him resign from his position as Family Issues Critic in the House of Commons with an apology.
Some members of PC party stated that, in light of that outburst, they are more reluctant to go through with the merger, since Spencer could simply be more outspoken than other Alliance members and that they did not want to be lumped in with a party seen as a bastion for bigots.
On December 8, 2003, the Conservative Party of Canada was officially registered with Elections Canada. A vote is scheduled for March 21, 2004 to select the new leader. Until the leadership convention, Senator John Lynch-Staunton has been named as the party's interim leader.
However, on the same day, three Progressive Conservative MPs indicated that they will not join the new Conservative Party caucus. Joe Clark, André Bachand and John Herron have all indicated that they could not agree to be associated with the new party and its views, and that they would serve out their terms as independents, keeping the Progressive Conservative designation.
Two days later, PC MP Scott Brison crossed the floor to the Liberals, announcing that he also was not willing to remain a member of the newly merged Conservative Party. Soon after, he was made a member of Prime Minister Paul Martin's cabinet.
Clark and Bachand announced they will not run for re-election while it was reported that Herron would seeking the Liberal nomination in his constituency. Additionally, three Senators, William Doody, Norman Atkins and Lowell Murray declined to join the new party and continue to sit in the upper house as Progressive Conservatives.
Another MP, Rick Borotsik, sits out his term with the Conservative caucus but announced he will not run for re-election.
A former Alliance MP, Keith Martin, also left the party on January 14 and will run as a Liberal in the upcoming election.
On January 9, 2004 the interim joint council of the party appointed the following caucus officers:
The leader of the new party will be chosen on March 21, 2004. Conservative activists hoped to recruit former Ontario Premier Mike Harris for the leadership but he declined as has New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. Outgoing Progressive Conservative leader Peter MacKay also announced he would not seek the leadership of the new party.
The three candidates who have announced their candidacy are Stephen Harper, who led the Canadian Alliance until its dissolution, former Ontario provincial Tory Cabinet minister Tony Clement and former Magna International CEO Belinda Stronach.
See also:
Controversy over formation
In an move which apparently has been taken to dismiss the optics that this merger has largely been a take over by the Alliance, the positions have been split evenly between former Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance MPs though Alliance members out number PCs 6 to 1.Leadership Election
Party leaders
External links