May 17, 2000
Trouble in Torydom - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- This past weekend, Tories from across the country gathered in Quebec City to discuss policy and stuff of the sort as the Progressive Conservatives try to weather the storm called the Canadian Alliance. This skirmish between the established Tories and the fledgling CA is most fascinating to me, as it shows the depth to which the “right” is trying to come together.
The Tories have been having a rough time. Remember, if you will, back to 1993 when the dynasty of Mulroney was reduced to two meager seats. The Tories sort of rebounded in the general election of 1997, under Jean Charest and while Joe Clark seems to be in the press a lot, his leadership is doubtful.
The Canadian Alliance have worked hard to erode the support of the Tories in Canada. They crushed the Tories in Western Canada, but they have failed to move east of Manitoba, and that’s why Reform transformed itself into the Canadian Alliance.
With that high-profile defection from the Tory caucus a couple of weeks ago, and the Tory premier’s of Ontario and Alberta moving to the Alliance, it’s safe to say the Progressive Conservatives will never mean anything to this country again. The Tories are in a tough bind. Should they all fold up their Tory tent and move into bed with the Canadian Alliance? Even, though I’d gladly see the Liberals out of office, I wouldn’t want Joe Clark to eliminate the party from the face of the Canadian political scene. There is a party there that is older than Confederation itself. It’s a party that has weathered storms in the past and they should be able to get through this one.
Joe Clark is putting a brave face on right now, as the Canadian Alliance is stealing right-wing voters across the country. Although, CA failed to post a decent showing in Monday’s by-election in St. John’s, Newfoundland, that doesn’t mean as much as that the Tories won by a really thin majority. This riding has always been a strong Tory riding for years, except in 1993, and the results of Monday prove Joe Clark’s got a thin hold on power. Even in the hot Tory bed of the Maritimes, the Tories are losing touch.
The biggest stars of the Tory convention were not Joe Clark or the feisty Elsie Wayne. One star was the daughter of Clark and Maureen McTeer, Catherine, and the other was the offspring of Brian and Mila Mulroney, Ben. Both in their early 20’s and extremely photogenic, with their appeal and young Peter McKay’s chutzpah, the Tories could reinvent themselves. With Preston Manning and the Canadian Alliance in firm tow of the right-wing, the Tories are still doomed.
The Liberals are still smiling.
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