Author:
Sandra Broudy per jfh
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Date Posted: 20:48:41 05/16/03 Fri
Author Host/IP: d150-99-156.home.cgocable.net/24.150.99.156
In her column of May 8th, Diane Francis states she believes the PC Party can only make a political difference to Canada by "disappearing" and refers to Peter MacKay and other PC leadership candidates as “dead men walking”. I beg to differ.
As I undertook to interview Ms. Francis about possible candidacy in the run for leadership of the PC party, I offer your readers a lens through which to view these comments. Ms. Francis’ rigid vision is a glaring example of the old ‘conservative problem’.
Ms Francis came to our discussion with a fairly fixed and not uncommon perspective of what needed to be done: her first action would be to call Stephen Harper of the Canadian Alliance to advise him she would be running and provide fair warning she intended to negotiate a merger between the two parties – whether he agreed or not. The approach: follow a direct line to her highest primary objective - merger. OK
There were concerns on both sides of the table that Ms. Francis’ views, as articulated in many columns of past, could make it difficult to convincingly advocate necessarily more flexible policy positions with much credibility.
Ms. Francis determined to reflect upon some private issues, explore contractual matters and undertook to seek the advice of a number of people we both respect and know in common. After some four weeks, she called to advise she had not followed through on the latter. She was not certain that it was in her best interest to pursue the leadership matter further. OK.
In her column, a little baguette initially appears intriguing: Ms. Francis, dazzled with the brilliance of the political finance bill, speaks to a facet of how this bill is damaging to the democratic processes and the right to electoral self determination. She continues, however, with observations that cannot pass for an informed analysis of our national political theatre. Sadly, as always, the central point remains unchanged.
Here is the unchanged mantra of 6 months ago, a year and two years ago. Ms. Francis continues to write to the same old political formula and more the world changes, the more she insists it is the tired old solutions we must accept.
In the ensuing 6 months, Canadians have experienced major provincial, regional, national and international shifts and changes. In concert, these will continue to have a profound impact on us all: on our democratic institutions, our economy, our national security, our political decision making processes, our relationship with our largest trading partner and greatest ally and so necessarily within the political dynamic – and upon the policies and relationships within and between our national parties. Quebec has a new Premier, and elections are called or are anticipated to be called in 5 provinces in addition over the next few months. One constitutional crisis seems to have been put to rest - another is stirring due to short sighted policies augmented by ongoing mismanagement and incompetence of the federal liberal government. A third roils barely below the surface...
Further, our three national parties have, or are presently, engaged in leadership campaigns. This necessarily ensures a dynamic process of change, regeneration and growth is taking place –including within the aged behemoth that is the national Liberal Party.
And yet, Ms. Francis would have us believe this regeneration of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada is counterproductive to the interests of Canadians. She asks us to go away.
This, however, is the political free market of Canadian democracy and here, as elsewhere, there is nothing as constant as change.
The groundswell of renewing support that is the regenerating conservative movement will neither be suppressed, nor diverted by influences that would wish to marshal its direction. Canadians are educated, independent thinkers, famished for leadership. We are reluctant to squeeze ourselves into ill fitting templates.
Canada’s tremendous diversity has constantly challenged our conscientious leaders. Thus, this emerging new generation of conservative political leadership – I expect the intelligent, energetic and talented Mr. MacKay - will be charged with fostering the new conservative dynamic and reaching out to all Canadians with a fresh national vision. It will be ours to ensure the betterment of our valued democratic institutions and Canada’s place in this brave new world for our future generations.
In order to retain any relevance, in politics as in business, one must beware of becoming overly jaded - a ‘toady’ to long held views and vested interests. As for “getting to heaven”: it’s oft been said it takes a little faith.
Sandra Broudy
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PC, Alliance in fierce family feud
PCs should finally recognize inappropriateness of their own existence
Diane Francis
Financial Post
Months ago I turned down an invitation to run for the leadership of the federal Progressive Conservatives.
That's because the party's over.
PC coffers are empty, it's run fifth in a field of five and its future leader is the political equivalent of dead man walking. The Canadian Alliance has proven to be the permanent standard bearer for western conservatives and deserves the support of the right.
Unfortunately, some Tories still disagree and to prove it seven people have thrown their hats in the ring. A new PC leader is to be elected at a Toronto convention on May 31.
But this contest is another empty sideshow, as is the Liberal "leadership" contest, which Paul Martin has locked up.
Nothing can derail the Martin Express, but at least the Tories can make a difference.
But only by disappearing, either in whole or in part.
At the very least, the new leader should sit down with Alliance leader Stephen Harper and agree to run joint candidates or to step aside in contests where the PCs or Alliance have head starts. They should agree to form a coalition in Ottawa after an election.
What's frustrating to many is that even those Tories who are running on a promise to unite the right are not a solution: If they were, they wouldn't have run in the first place.
The issue is that Canada's conservatives are bogged down in a fierce family feud, divided along east and west lines. The only way to fix a family feud is to agree to be a family again, then to sit down and get both sides together in order to reach an accommodation or negotiate compromises.
Instead, the Tories have continued since losing power in 1993 to move further away from their political kin. Now, to make matters worse, they persist in doing this by holding a leadership convention and insisting that in the next federal election they will field candidates in all 301 federal ridings.
Once their new leader is elected, the problem won't be fixed even if he has promised to try and merge conservatives.
That's because the new leader, as all leaders, will be surrounded by workers who believe he could be just one step away from becoming the next Prime Minister. While irrational, such beliefs are foremost in the minds of anyone who volunteers to help get someone elected.
Once ensconced, the new leader will realize his biggest "enemy" is not the Grits, but his fellow conservatives from out west in the Canadian Alliance party. Backbiting and sniping will ensue, thus pushing the family even further apart.
This will guarantee that once Martin calls the next federal election, every single Tory candidate fielded against a Canadian Alliance candidate, with a few dozen exceptions, will absolutely guarantee a Liberal victory in that riding.
This is so obvious that if I were the president of the Liberal Party I would be diverting funds to Tory coffers in order to finance what amounts to a stalking horse guaranteed to keep conservatives out of power.
In fact, sandbagging any attempts to unite the right is the modus operandi behind the Prime Minister's "legacy" proposal of campaign reform that would make it impossible for corporations, or unions, to bankroll elections. It works in the following way: If corporations cannot give contributions, they cannot play a role in forcing the Tories and Alliance to unite by backing one over the other.
The Tories have forfeited their position and should accede to the fact that the Canadian Alliance is the standard bearer for conservatives across the country and, as such, deserves to represent them.
Preston Manning turned a western protest movement into the country's Official Opposition and, along the way, proved that he and his party were the only truly democratic institution in the land. He, despite huge electoral success, voluntarily threw his hat in the ring.
This represented true democracy, unlike the sham Liberal leadership contest with three candidates, two of whom totally pull their punches because they want Cabinet seats in Paul Martin's new government.
Meanwhile, the Tories indulge in a mutually destructive debate, calling one another names as well as maligning their conservative cousins. Front-runner Peter MacKay was called to task for describing the Alliance as "radioactive," a word he said was taken out of context.
The facts are that some very heavy lifting by conservatives across this country is absolutely essential to restoring Canada to a democratic country. This is the only way to offer voters a viable alternative. Without uniting the right, regime change is impossible and voter malaise inevitable.
Instead, everyone wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to die.
dfrancis@nationalpost.com
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