Letter to PCPC Management Committee, Friday, December 12, 2003
Kingsley announces the end of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
by Jean-Pierre Kingsley

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

"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

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

Back Top