The Canadian Alliance-PC Party Merger
Legal documents
The MacKay-Orchard Agreement
The agreement signed by Peter
MacKay and David Orchard formed the basis for Orchard's final-ballot support for MacKay at the PC Party Leadership Convention, May 31, 2003.
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Click here for larger pictures and the full written text. |
Moncton Times and Transcript, June 06, 2003
N.B. Senator Brokers Tory Pact Noel Kinsella helped orchestrate controversial
deal which gave PC leadership to Peter MacKay.
By Campbell Morrison
OTTAWA. New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Senator Noel Kinsella brokered the controversial deal between Tory leadership candidates Peter MacKay and David Orchard that secured MacKay's victory...continued
November 21, 2003, Ottawa (2:35 minute
video)
Watch David Orchard
explain his convention agreement with Peter MacKay (excerpted
from the November 21st Press Conference.)
Montreal Gazette, Friday, June 06, 2003
"What's most troubling about the MacKay-Orchard Magna
Carta?" By Aislin
Vancouver Sun, Friday, August 20, 2004
Controversial Tory joins Greens: David Scrymgeour raises leadership candidate's cry that environmental party is drifting right
by Bill Curry
OTTAWA -- The Conservative party's first interim executive director David Scrymgeour -- who was also campaign director to Ontario Tory leadership candidate Jim Flaherty -- has jumped ship to work as an adviser to the Green party.
Scrymgeour was at the heart of the infamous backroom deal between David Orchard and Peter MacKay at the final Progressive Conservative convention that gave MacKay the party leadership. Orchard demanded MacKay remove Scrymgeour as the PCs' national director in exchange for his support because Scrymgeour was seen as overly supportive of a merger with the Canadian
Alliance...continued
The following
April 8, 2003 letter to then PC Party National President Bruck Easton from Grant Orchard, Leadership Campaign Manager for David Orchard, provides the background to why Orchard demanded Scrymgeour's removal as national director.
CTV.ca, Tuesday, June 2, 2004
Lone Quebec Tory throws support behind Liberal
by CTV.ca News Staff
Former Conservative MP Andre Bachand has announced he will throw his support behind the Liberal candidate in his riding, dealing a blow to Stephen Harper's campaign in Quebec...
continue
CBC Webpost (stjohns.cbc.ca), Monday, May 17, 2004
MP mystified by anti-merger suit
by CBC Staff
ST. JOHN'S St. John's West MP Loyola Hearn says he's baffled by the support former Premier Brian Peckford is throwing behind a law suit that challenges the validity of the merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties...
continue
Globe and Mail, Monday, May 10, 2004
Undo Conservative merger, stalwarts to ask court
by KIRK MAKIN
The new Conservative Party violated the Canada Elections Act by covertly
creating a new political party instead of merging two parties into one,
a group of former PC cabinet ministers is to allege this week in a legal
application.
The former Progressive Conservative ministers, led by Sinclair Stevens,
plan to argue in Federal Court tomorrow that the registration of the new
party was rushed through with unjustifiable haste on a Sunday last
December...
continued
Press release, Thursday, May 6, 2004
Formation of the Conservative Party of Canada to be Challenged in Federal Court on May 11, 2004
An internal Elections Canada document reveals that, at a meeting on November 25th, 2003, the Chief Electoral Officer advised party representatives that he was prepared to adopt flexible and responsive procedural processes to respond effectively and efficiently to any application which might be submitted to his office. The Applicant takes the position that the processes adopted contravened the rights of the "PC Loyalists."
The full story...
Winnipeg Free Press, Friday, April 30, 2004
Clark's remarks reasonable
Anger focused more on his right to speak than substance of words
by William Neville
Joe Clark said this week that although neither Paul Martin nor Stephen Harper are ideal candidates for prime minister, Martin represents less of a danger to Canada than would Harper...
continue
Winnipeg Free Press, Friday, April 30, 2004
Focus properly shifts to Harper
by Frances Russell
Judging from the vituperation that greeted former Progressive Conservative leader and prime minister Joe Clark's warnings about the extremism of Conservative leader Stephen Harper, the new party's supporters are very worried... continue
Toronto Star, Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Fighting for her family - and her party
Creation of the new Tories a 'betrayal'
First PM's relative appealing merger
by Tracey Tyler
The cobblestone path to Ontario's highest court might cause lesser beings to falter, but Marie Gatley didn't miss a step. She may be 83, but she's just as steely in her determination to rescue one of Canada's founding political parties - and her family legacy...
continue
Tuesday, April 27, 10:30 am.
Appeal Hearing, Merger case, Ahenakew vs MacKay.
Ontario Court of Appeal, 130 Queen Street West (old Osgoode Hall) Toronto, ON
Appeal of December 5, 2003 ruling by Justice Juriansz in the Canadian Alliance - PC Party merger case.
Media release, April 25, 2004
PC-CA merger case goes to Ontario Court of Appeal
Following the March 23, 2003 ruling by Justice Russell Juriansz, wherein the judge rejected the new Conservative party's claim for a $200,000.00 costs award against David Orchard and the 22 other applicants, the Progressive Conservative loyalists are set to take their case to keep the PC Party alive to the Ontario Court of Appeal.
continue
Media release, Monday, April 5, 2004
PC loyalists win in the Ontario Superior Court
Following the December 5, 2003 ruling by Justice R. Juriansz in the legal challenge to the merger between the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party (Ahenakew et al vs MacKay), the new Conservative party filed a claim with the judge for a $200,000.00 cost award against David Orchard and the 22 other applicants ...
continue
aussi en francais continuez
The StarPhoenix, Monday, April 5, 2004
Orchard wins fight against Tories
by Darren Bernhardt
Saskatchewan farmer David Orchard has struck a major blow against his Goliath, dodging a $200,000 lawsuit by the Conservative Party of Canada.
"It lifts a great weight off our shoulders, this threat of huge costs," said Orchard, the former Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful. "It's a significant victory for us. I can tell you our people all across the country are happy."
continue ...
aussi en francais continuez ...
The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon), Friday, April 2, 2004
Orchard plans comeback for PC party
by Darren Bernhardt
David Orchard, the Saskatchewan farmer and former Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful, has vowed to provide a new federal party to people forsaken by the recent PC and Canadian Alliance merger. When that happens and whether it means a new party on the federal political landscape or resuscitation under the PC banner remains to be seen.
"I'm considering everything now...
continue
Vancouver Sun, Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Orchard a politician in search of a party
by Barbara Yaffe
The man responsible for all but destroying Peter MacKay's political career looks not the tiniest bit remorseful.
David Orchard continues to believe he was betrayed by Mr. MacKay. Mr. Orchard, of course, is the Progressive Conservative who at last May's leadership convention threw his support to the Nova Scotia MP in exchange for a promise the new leader would nix any merger with the Canadian Alliance. Mr. MacKay shortly thereafter reneged on the deal...
continue
Globe and Mail, Monday, March 08, 2004,
Stevens asks to see file on Tory merger
"The objective was to pre-empt a legal challenge, Marjaleena Repo, the Progressive Conservative Party's Saskatchewan vice-president [and David Orhcard's senior advisor], says in an affidavit."
by Gay Abbate
Former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Sinclair Stevens will be in court today asking for all documentation from the federal chief electoral officer on why he approved the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives on a Sunday, depriving opponents of the chance to take legal steps to stop it...continued
Press Release, Friday, March 5, 2004
Why did the Chief Electoral Officer create the Conservative Party of Canada on a Sunday?
There will be a motion in Federal Court in Toronto on Monday, March 8th asking the court to order the Chief Electoral Officer to provide more information from his files concerning the creation of the Conservative Party of Canada.
The Chief Electoral Officer registered the Conservative Party of Canada as a result of a purported merger between the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance on Sunday, December 7th, 2003. One consequence of the registration was to eliminate the Progressive Conservative Party.
The full story...
Debates of the Senate (Hansard), Thursday, February 26, 2004 3rd Session, 37th Parliament, Volume 141, Issue 17
Reasons for Sitting as Progressive Conservative
by Hon. Lowell Murray
Read Lowell Murray's speech to the Senate.
Globe and Mail, Wednesday, 25 Feb 2004
Orchard takes Conservatives to court again
by Luma Muhtadie
Former Tory leadership candidate David Orchard has filed another lawsuit against the new Conservative Party for violating its own rules by holding on to more than $70,000 of his money from the leadership campaign... continued
Press release, Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Ethics like charity begin at home, David Orchard tells the Conservative party of Canada
Much is made by the new entity, the Conservative Party, of the lack of ethics and trustworthiness of the Liberal government. Not a day goes by without a Conservative Party representative, sometimes Peter MacKay himself, pronouncing on the dishonesty of the Liberals and emanding accountability. "Where is the money?" they call out, and "Give back the money," they demand... continue aussi en francais
Debates of the Senate (Hansard), Thursday, February 5, 2004 3rd Session, 37th Parliament, Volume 141, Issue 4
Reasons for Sitting as Progressive Conservative
by Hon. Norman Atkins
Read Norman Atkin's speech to the Senate.
Letter to PCPC Management Committee, Friday, December 12, 2003
Kingsley announces the end of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Jean-Pierre Kingsley
In accordance with subsection 401(2) of the Canada Elections Act, I
wish to inform you that the registry of parties was amended on
December 7, 2003, by replacing the names Canadian Reform
Conservative Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
with the name Conservative Party of Canada....continued
Attempts to stifle party democracy
Read Saskatchewan PC Vice-President Marjaleena Repo's resolution
to stop the vote from
going ahead on the merger
deal which she was prevented
from presenting at the
PC Party Management Committee
meeting in Ottawa, October
25, 2003. Party President,
Bruck Easton, backed by
PC Legal Counsel John
Scott, ruled the resolution
out of order.
Read Manitoba PC Riding President John Perrin's resolution
to stop the deal from
going forward which he
was prevented from presenting
in the National Council
meeting, November 8, 2003.
Again, Bruck Easton and
John Scott ruled the resolution
and all other resolutions
on the merger out of order.
Rules
and Procedures for Delegate
Selection Meetings
— These meetings
were held by PC riding
associations between November
29 and December 2, 2003
for the purpose of selecting
delegates to a Special
Meeting of Members which
was held on December 6,
2003.
Final
Rules —
These are the Rules and
Procedures for the Special
Meeting of Members held
on December 6, 2003. (It
was at this meeting that
delegates voted to dissolve
the PC party and create
a new, merged party with
the former Canadian Alliance
members.)
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Canadian Press, Friday, December 5, 2003
Ontario judge rejects Tory maverick David Orchard's lawsuit
by Greg Bonnell
David Orchard's lawsuit against the Progressive Conservative party over its proposal to merge with the Canadian Alliance has no merit, an Ontario judge ruled Friday.
"The application is dismissed in its entirety," Superior Court Justice Russell Juriansz said in a written decision...
continue
Globe and Mail, December 1, 2003
Why we’re going to court
A small clique has hijacked
our party and violated its constitution, say long-time Tories
by David Orchard, Hanson Dowell, Oscar Johvicas,
and John Perrin
...Read
the story
Globe and Mail, Monday 01 December 2003
Who will write the new Conservatives'
platform?
by John Ibbitson
Early returns from the weekend's delegate-selection
meetings suggest that Progressive Conservatives across
the country have emphatically endorsed the proposal
to merge with the Canadian Alliance.
Even the homophobic rants of Alliance MP Larry Spencer,
a disturbing reminder of the undercurrent of bigotry
that lurks at the fringes of populist conservatism,
proved insufficient to deter the merger...continued
Toronto Star, Mon 01 December 2003
All out of principle here
It is becoming clear the proposed merger deal
between the PCs and the Alliance honours nothing but
power for its own sake
by Jessie Chauhan
Much is said and written about the cynicism with which
Canadians hold politicians, the political process
and public institutions. The proposed merger of the
Progressive Conservatives and the Alliance only contributes
to this trend...continued
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Launch of the legal suit against the proposed merger
At a press conference held November 26, 2003 at the offices of Sack Goldblatt Mitchell, David Orchard announced the official launch of the legal suit and introduced key plaintiffs.
In this video, you will see the entire press conference, including the lively and various comments of a range of supporters as well as a question period towards the end. Those speaking include Sean Dewart, chief lawyer on the case, who summarizes the crux of the legal argument; C. Hanson Dowell, chairman of the PC Party Presidents Council of Nova Scotia and a life-long Tory; Oscar Johvicas, immediate past president of the Beaches-East York federal PC Association and an active party member since 65;. Jean Glover, supporter from Haldeman-Norfolk, Ontario; Marie Gatley, great-grandniece of Sir John A. Macdonald; and Arthur Langford, supporter from Haldeman-Norfolk, Ontario.
(47 minute streamed video)
Watch the conference...
Toronto Sun, Sunday 23 November 2003
Clark & Orchard: An odd pair of party poopers
They are, for the most part, Red Tories who would rather die, politically, than join the Alliance.
by Linda Williamson
In just 19 days, this country's national political landscape will be profoundly changed. Not only is Dec. 12 the day Jean Chretien will finally make his overdue exit from the Prime Minister's Office, it's also the ratification deadline for the equally overdue merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives into the new Conservative Party of Canada... continued
21 November 2003 - Ottawa
David Orchard challenges takeover: National Press Theatre press conference
(24-minute streamed video)
Hear David explaining:
- his original convention agreement with
Peter MacKay on May 31st: that there would
be no merger with the Canadian
Alliance;
- how Peter MacKay has, with no mandate
from the PC membership, signed an "Agreement-in-Principle"
with Stephen Harper, proposing just such
a merged party;
- how the proposed merger contradicts the
expressed wishes of the PC membership,
as indicated by a vast majority of delegates
at the past two PC conventions;
- how the proposed merged party does not
reflect the interests of the Canadian
public, and is likely to be far less successful
at the polls than an invigorated PC party
dedicated to upholding its own time-honoured
values.
Globe and Mail , Friday 21 November 2003
Tories might well ask: What's it all about?
by John Ibbitson
For the proposed Conservative Party of Canada, it's just one thing after another.
Former Ontario premier Ernie Eves has told his caucus he wants to step down in January, and has recommended a leadership convention for March. If the party concurs, it will be dismal news for efforts to unite the federal PC and Canadian Alliance parties...continue
Winnipeg Free Press, Sunday 16 November 2003
A Red Tory's Creed
by Dale Swirsky
WHY not support the merger? We're all conservatives, aren't we? Don't we need an alternative to the Liberals? The PC party is as good as dead due to the infighting created by the merger, so why fight it? Ah, the noble "if you can't beat them, join them" pitch. ...
continued
Globe and Mail, November
14, 2003
Progressives at the brink
Tories who are ready to kill off their own party,
with the help of the Canadian Alliance, should consider
the political outcome, says JOE CLARK
by Joe Clark
The federal Liberal Party is poised to run Canada
as a one-party state for another 20 years, at least.
But the critical decision on that future will not
be made by delegates to today's coronation of Paul
Martin. It will be determined instead by the success
— or failure — of the proposed Canadian
Alliance takeover of the Progressive Conservative
Party of Canada...continued
Toronto Star, Nov.
14, 2003
No future for PC party
Proposed right-wing
alliance would violate the progressive and moderate
traditions of its former leaders
by Flora MacDonald
On my return to Canada from Afghanistan where I work
with groups of war widows, I was surprised to receive
a call from a CBC reporter asking for my views on
the merger...continued
The Star-Phoenix, Thursday 13 November 2003
Effort to undermine true conservatives devious
by Anthony Hall
The taint of the failed Meech Lake Accord permeated the Harper-MacKay accord the moment the two political leaders shook hands.
continued
Winnipeg Free Press, Friday 07 November 2003
Potential leaders in short supply
Mulroney reappears as a player
by William Neville
During the first weeks of the betrothal of the Tories and the Canadian Alliance, the name that most frequently bubbled to the top as a prospective near-dream candidate to lead the new party was that of Mike Harris, the former premier of Ontario. ...
continued
Winnipeg Free Press, Sunday 02 November 2003
Toryism's Last Lament
by Trevor Harrison
MANY view the current Alliance-Tory rapprochement as healing a rift begun when Preston Manning founded the Reform party in 1987. In truth, it is the culmination of a civil (and sometimes uncivil) war within conservatism going back more than 40 years... continued
Toronto Star, October 24, 2003
An open letter to Peter MacKay
A veteran Progressive Conservative party MP writes to party Leader Peter MacKay about the proposed Tory-Canadian Alliance merger.
by Sinclair Stevens
Dear Peter:
I write to you in sorrow and disappointment. As you know, I voted for you on May 31, to be the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. I did so, partly influenced by your pamphlet, which was distributed at the convention.
You spoke of a new conservative course. You listed six priorities of the new conservative course and set out in detail your views on the economy, health, security, democracy, quality of life and justice. There was no mention of the Canadian Alliance party or their radical views...continued
Winnipeg Free Press, Fri 24 Oct 2003
Watch for a purge of Red Tories
by Frances Russell
Leadership frontrunner and former Ontario premier Mike Harris believes "nothing is more valuable than our unparalleled relationship with the world's only superpower," and plans "a common sense revolution for Canada", big tax and spending cuts and an immigration policy that discourages refugees because they "want to rely on the state."
Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning hopes the new Conservative Party will build a "conservative political infrastructure" for Canada dedicated to maintaining and expanding "the intellectual foundations of fiscal, social, cultural, democratic and constitutional conservatism."
Tom Long, the guru behind former Ontario premier Mike Harris's Common Sense Revolution, believes there is a small-c conservative majority in Canada. "We're working with 10 years of pent-up (political) energy. What people are really after is lower taxes, (smaller) government, a rebuilt military, and respect for law and order."
One week into the launch of the latest "great right hope" and the portents are perilous for those who seek a "big tent" party capable of unseating the governing Liberals. So far, the proponents of a united right are making it clear they aren't interested in giving a real option to Canadians. They are only interested in fashioning their own little sandbox where they can play their own narrow ideological games...continued
Winnipeg Free Press, Fri 24 Oct 2003
Alliance to overpower Tories
But merger math may not add up in polling booth
by William Neville
The proposed Progressive Conservative-Canadian Alliance marriage (you should pardon the expression, but others have already characterized it as a same-sect marriage) is going to be the phenomenon of the fall -- in several senses...
continued
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Critical News on the Proposed PC-CA
Merger
Members of the PC Party who are opposed
to the proposed merger of the Progressive Conservative
and Canadian Alliance parties, in a joint effort,
commissioned the legal firm of Gardiner Roberts LLP
to prepare a legal opinion on the ramifications of
the proposed merger. Their report was released on
October 23, 2003 and sent as a memo to Marjaleena
Repo, senior adviser to David Orchard and a member
of the PC Party's Management Committee.
To view the report in PDF format, click
here.
Globe and Mail, Thu 23 October 2003
Tories: Block this deal before
it's too late
by Lowell Murray
Progressive Conservatives who imagine they can make
moderate, centrist policy prevail in the proposed
new Conservative Party of Canada anytime soon are
dreaming in Technicolor...continued
Winnipeg Free Press, October 21, 2003
One plus one does not make two
by Frances Russell
"The Conservative Party of Canada will combine the institutional history and expertise of the PC Party with the grassroots democracy and energy of the Canadian Alliance,"
Progressive Conservative Party Leader Peter MacKay proclaimed at his news conference with Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper last week.
Now, that would be a party that would offer a real alternative to the Liberals. But what is far more likely is that the new "united right" will be just the opposite, exhibiting the institutional history and expertise of the Canadian Alliance and the grassroots democracy and energy of the PC Party....continued
The Toronto Sun, 21 October 2003
The price of a party
Alliance members are buying up Tory memberships
left and right, not only to counter the influence
of anti-merger PC David Orchard, but to ensure their
control of the merged party
by Greg Weston
If we are to believe the grand promoters of conservative
merger-mania, Canadians across the land are wildly plunking
down their ten bucks and snapping up Tory party memberships
like tickets for the final Stones concert.
"This thing is right out there catching fire -- the stampede
is on," declared former Canadian Alliance MP Ray Speaker,
one of the architects of the merger deal with the
Tories. Any naysayers trying to get in the way of
ratifying the planned political union of the decade,
Speaker added, "are going to get stampeded in the
rush to buy memberships." By no coincidence, much
of the rush to join the Tory party is coming from
Canadian Alliance members.
Why would anyone plunk down good money to join the
Tory party on the eve of its funeral?
Answer: To make sure it is dead...continued
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
MacKay-Harper Agreement in Principle
The text of the article is in PDF format. (1.2mb)
The Globe and Mail, 10 October
2003
Unite the right? Don't bother us with the details
by John Ibbitson
'We're not worried about things like the party constitution,"
one Tory close to the unite-the-right talks said,
"we're just trying to do a deal, here."
Well guys, it's time to take a look at that constitution...continued
Kitchener-Waterloo Record, Thu 26 Sep 2003
Unite-the-right is all wrong
by William Christian
At the Progressive Conservative leadership convention, Peter McKay made a deal with David Orchard that does not appear to have borne much fruit. The PC constitution requires the party to run candidates in all of Canada s ridings and McKay promised that he would honour that requirement. Politicians lie much less than most people think but it disgusts me that McKay would toss aside so lightly a seriously promise so publicly given.....continued
Globe and Mail, Wed 25 Jun 2003
An Alliance kiss of death
The Tories should call Stephen Harper's bluff by proposing a common platform for the next election
by Norman Spector
Stephen Harper wants to make "common cause" with newly elected Tory leader
Peter MacKay in order to throw the Liberal rascals out of office. The
Alliance leader says voters expect the two parties to present a single slate
of candidates in the next election. That's eyewash...
continued
Globe and Mail, 23 June 2003
Don't do it, Peter
There is no good reason for Tories to climb into bed with the Alliance
by Senator Lowell Murray
Stephen Harper called last week for an "electoral coalition" between the
Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance parties. If our party's
leader, Peter MacKay, goes down this road -- and he seems tempted to explore
it -- he will waste precious time and political capital. And he will find
it's a dead end...
continued
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