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Opposition to the PC-CA Merger | |||||
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The Canadian Alliance-PC Party MergerThe 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.
Moncton Times and Transcript, June 06, 2003
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
Montreal Gazette, Friday, June 06, 2003
Globe and Mail, 23 June 2003 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
Globe and Mail, Wed 25 Jun 2003 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
Kitchener-Waterloo Record, Thu 26 Sep 2003 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
The Globe and Mail, 10 October
2003 '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
Wednesday, October 15, 2003 The text of the article is in PDF format. (1.2mb)
The Toronto Sun, 21 October 2003 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.
Winnipeg Free Press, October 21, 2003 "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
Globe and Mail, Thu 23 October 2003 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
Thursday, October 23, 2003 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 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
Winnipeg Free Press, Fri 24 Oct 2003 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
Toronto Star, October 24, 2003 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,
Sunday 02 November 2003 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
Winnipeg Free Press,
Friday 07 November 2003 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
The Star-Phoenix,
Thursday 13 November 2003 The taint of the failed Meech Lake Accord permeated the Harper-MacKay accord the moment the two political leaders shook hands. continued
Toronto Star, Nov.
14, 2003 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
Globe and Mail,
November 14, 2003
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
Winnipeg Free Press,
Sunday 16 November 2003 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
November 21, 2003, Ottawa
Globe and Mail , Friday 21 November 2003 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...continued
21 November 2003 - Ottawa
David Orchard challenges takeover: National Press Theatre press conference (24-minute streamed video) Hear David explaining:
Toronto Sun, Sunday 23 November 2003 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
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Toronto Star, Mon 01
December 2003
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
Globe and Mail, Monday
01 December 2003
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
Globe and Mail, December 1, 2003
Canadian Press, Friday, December 5, 2003 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.
Letter to PCPC Management Committee, Friday, December 12, 2003
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
Debates of the Senate (Hansard), Thursday, February 5, 2004 Read Norman Atkin's speech to the Senate.
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... continued
Globe and Mail, Wednesday, 25 Feb 2004 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
Debates of the Senate (Hansard), Thursday, February 26, 2004 Read Lowell Murray's speech to the Senate.
Press Release, Friday, March 5, 2004
Globe and Mail, Monday, March 08, 2004 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
The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon), Friday, April 2, 2004 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.
The StarPhoenix, Monday, April 5, 2004 Saskatchewan farmer David Orchard has struck a major blow against his Goliath, dodging a $200,000 lawsuit by the Conservative Party of Canada.
Media release, Monday, April 5, 2004 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 ...
continued
Media release, April 25, 2004 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. continued
Tuesday, April 27, 10:30 am.
Toronto Star, Wednesday, April 28, 2004 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... continued
Winnipeg Free Press, Friday, April 30, 2004 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... continued
Winnipeg Free Press, Friday, April 30, 2004 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... continued
Press release, Thursday, May 6, 2004
Globe and Mail, Monday, May 10, 2004
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.
CBC Webpost (stjohns.cbc.ca), Monday, May 17, 2004 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... continued
CTV.ca, Tuesday, June 2, 2004 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... continued
For more information, please see Legal Cases. |
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