Link:
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/06/tories_vote031206
OTTAWA - Progressive Conservative delegates voted Saturday to unite the right by merging their party with the Canadian Alliance so they can challenge the governing Liberals together.
"With this overwhelming vote, we have just become Paul Martin's worst nightmare," said Tory Leader Peter MacKay. Martin is the Liberal leader.
Just over 90 per cent of the 2,486 Tory delegates at the "virtual convention" said "yes" to creating a new combined party to be called the Conservative Party of Canada.
A majority of the votes in each riding committed the riding's full delegation to vote for or against the merger.
The delegates voted simultaneously in 26 cities. The process was dubbed a virtual convention.
Peter MacKay votes with supporters in Ottawa (CP photo)
Alliance members voted almost 96 per cent in favour of the merger on Friday.
MacKay told delegates the merger was needed to end a decade of vote-splitting among conservatives that has helped the Liberals win the last three elections.
Conservatives are frustrated "because there's no one to vote for who can beat (the Liberals)," said former Conservative finance minister Mike Wilson.
But another former cabinet minister, Flora MacDonald, argued against the merger. She said the views expressed by some Alliance members on issues such as women's rights, immigration and bilingualism are not compatible with those of the Tory party.
"You will not be able to wish away these contradictions, or gloss over them," MacDonald said. "You are trying to create a party with no policy and no higher purpose than opportunism."
Tory MP Scott Brison, who ran for the party leadership against MacKay last summer, said he had increasing doubts the new party would reflect his values or those of Canadians.
MacKay, however, was enthusiastic. "Finally, after 10 years, the Liberal Party of Canada will be facing a united, strong conservative family in the next federal general election."
Together, the Tories and Alliance MPs hold 78 seats in the House of Commons, compared to 170 for the Liberals.
But some of the 15 sitting Tory MPs say they will sit as independents, rather than join the new entity. "I cannot sit with the new party," said former prime minister Joe Clark.
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/06/tories_vote031206
This is some major Canadian political news, which could have profound impacts on the power of the opposition in the country. Although I havnt been following politics too much in the past year or so, this still caught my eye and got me interested again.