Present Of PC Party In The National Post

I don't know whether Mr. Feldsted was/is a Reformer or a PCer, but it doesn't matter. What I do know is that Mr. Feldsted would agree that It would be a gross understatement for those of us who have steadfastly criticized the MacKay-betrayal, deceptive, un-democratic, and anti-PCPC-constitutional (there was no mandated face-to-face, open-to-debate on the proposed merger, at a National Convention) sell out of the PCPC, to say "we told you so!!"

Will those intelligent former PCPC grassrouts who acquiesced to the merger be able to now bite their pride and admit that the merger is a democratic disaster for the grassroots of both the "legacy" parties forming the "so-called" new Conservative party?

It's amazing and incredible that such intelligent grassroots might show-up in Montreal on March 17-19/2005, and accept having the voicing of any vibrant, legitimate criticism of the "top-down," prescriptive new-constitution silenced by strict convention rules designed to stifle free _expression from the convention floor. The intent of this stifling of _expression? To falsely show to the T.V. audience that the new-Conservative party is united -- that there is but One Conservative Voice

Those who sold us out through manipulation are among the decision makers seeking to manipulate the new-Cons policy and constitution. As you speak to those who felt they had no option but to play follow the leader point out that the best way to gauge future actions is by past actions.

I term politics the Game of Games. We are not actively engaged in the turmoil within the CPC but I expect for many of us it's interesting to follow.

The game is shifting courts from focus on policy to the top down nature of the constitution.

It's a game that is of importance to us because the outcomes will affect whether many of our former colleagues stay on board or jump ship (in which case they may swim our way.)

Joe


National Post
March 8, 2005


Progressive conservatism

Re: The Last Progressive Conservative, Peter C. Newman, March 5.
I must take exception to Mr. Newman's summation that John Tory is the last of the "Progressive Conservatives." As president of the Progressive Canadian (PC) Party, I can tell you that progressive-conservatism is alive and well in this country today.
After the merger last December between the Progressive Conservative party and the Canadian Alliance, many PC party members reunited under the Progressive Canadian banner. We are progressive-conservatives; progressive in moving forward and being open to a changing global community and conservative in respecting our heritage and our history and the rights of Canadians.

Tracy Parsons, president, Progressive Canadian (PC) Party, Dartmouth, N.S.