PC Interact

It falls on those who maintain the vision of our founders that the Government of Canada 's role is to act not for Albertans or Islanders, for English-speaking or French-speaking or Allophones but rather for all Canadians . It falls on them and us to offer a positive vision and a positive option to the electorate.

Only through concrete action can this be done.

Action follows upon making the very personal decision to be a player not just an observer, a driver not just a passenger.

For some the decision to act has been taken, through seeking office last June, through working on campaigns, through making preparations for the next campaign and the beyond.

"Where were you when . . . ?" is a question that may be posed in the future to us, to you.

If you make the personal decision to answer "I was speaking for Canada" join with those of us who are and will be preparing for the next election . . . and the future.

Joe
904-356-3901


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REACTION

New Conservative Party follows Reform/Alliance Legacy
In internal party structuring and the role of the Government of Canada


Press Release NIAGARA FALLS, March 21, 2005 –

The nature of the new Conservative Party was clarified in two ways this weekend: with respect to its internal party structure and more significantly the role of the Government of Canada. In both, the sound legacy of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada were discarded.

Equality of representation for all constituencies was maintained – but only after Peter Mackay argued publicly it would be a betrayal of the agreement he'd negotiated to alter the principle . What was omitted from the constitution is more significant.

Despite passionate appeals by MPs Peter Van Loan and Mike Chong, as well as former Ontario Cabinet Minister Tony Clement -- all of whom were introduced to politics through the PC Youth Federation -- and despite those who noted that every major conservative movement in the western world has a youth federation of some sort, the establishment of a youth federation went down to defeat.

Rather than a training ground for the future , as the Progressive Conservative Youth Association had been, the Alliance concept that greater numbers of youth and campus associations would be a "threat to democracy" prevailed.

The new party has abandoned the PC Party pattern of the direct election of its president. Further, the system of the PC National Council being comprised of constituency presidents has been abandoned in favour of one made up of a small group of 20 people. These changes remove the direct link between the administration of the party and the riding associations .

"The power is being concentrated in the hands of a very few and the nature of those powers is being expanded into areas never before considered," says Joe Hueglin, former P.C. Member of Parliament and riding president and current PC Party National Co-ordinator. He notes how different this new National Council is from the groups he had sat with over the years. "This new National Council has the power to turn down candidates favoured at the local level and to refuse memberships in the party without stating reasons," he says. " They can even decide that a sitting MP face a nomination convention. While giving lip service to grassroots democracy this party is effectively ruled by a junta with no constitutional accountability between General Meetings."

During its policy convention, this new Conservative Party has truly defined itself by abandoning the legacy of Canada's founders.

The policy resolutions that were adopted give short shrift to the idea of a strong central government. Rather, these policies devolve power toward the provinces and move Canadians toward the type of minimalist federal government that Stephen Harper has long advocated. In reaching out to Quebecers in his speech, Harper used the word "autonomy. " It was a reflection of the point of view he expressed in writing in the Next City Magazine in 1997 -- that an alliance with the Bloc Quebecois would not be out of place. "The Bloc are nationalists for much the same reasons Albertans are populists," he said. "They care about their local identity and they see the Federal government as a threat to their way of life."

The new Conservative Party also embraces a much higher degree of integration with the U.S. Well buried in the partisan rhetoric in his speech to the delegates, we saw the return of the Stephen Harper who argued so forcefully that we should have supported the invasion of Iraq. And according to Harper -- and the resolutions passed -- this party would bring us "back to the table" with the Americans on the controversial missile defence pact. Rather than approaching economic integration and a North American security perimeter cautiously, they welcome them with open arms. Further, a study will be undertaken into "the security of our long-term freshwater resources as they pertain to exportation as a commodity."

The Progressive Canadian (PC) Party is true to its founders in believing that Canada is much more than the sum of autonomous parts and that there must always be extreme caution in making an agreement with the modern-day descendants of Thomas Haliburton's Sam Slick.

It is intriguing to note the lack of caution exercised by Stephen Harper who has taken to ending his speeches with a Canadianized version of the phrase so often used by the leader to the south, "God bless Canada".

(30)



ACTION
PC Party
Southern Ontario PC Party Session

When?
Sunday, April 3rd

Location?

Mississauga, Ontario

Tentatively at Creighton Rock Drilling Boardroom (depending on attendance)

Who Is Invited?

Riding Presidents, Candidates and Activists
All Members Are Welcome!

(Not yet a member? RSVP Below and we’ll get you signed up!
And why not start your recruiting now by bringing a new member?)


If you believe in the party and are wondering how you can contribute..
If you are trying to organize and grow your riding association.
Or if you are wondering how you can help –
This is the meeting for you!

Theme:

Building our membership and developing our presence in the ridings (EDAs)

Agenda

12:00 – 1:30 PM -- Social and Lunch
Special Guest – Tracy Parsons, President, PC Party of Canada!
Others TBD

1:30 – 4:00 PM – Training, Planning and Strategy Sessions in:

How to start/organize an EDA /Riding Association)
Recruiting new members
Addressing Local Issues
Roles and Activities for EDAs /Riding Associations)
Getting and Keeping Momentum
Fund Raising and Other Activities

Cost?

A modest charge for lunch (TBD). For those who come just for the afternoon session we will take donations to offset the meeting costs.

RSVP – PLEASE! We need to plan for numbers of people! Let us know which sessions you can/will attend. Also let us know if you have any special dietary needs/restrictions.

lovej@pcparty.org
416-708-5519


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