Ottawa — The leaders of Canada's two conservative parties unveiled a historic merger agreement Thursday to create a united right-wing party that promises to change the political landscape of the country.
Sources said on Wednesday that all that remained was for the party leaders to review a final version of the agreement, which calls for the new entity to be named the Conservative Party of Canada. Members of the Canadian Alliance and the federal Progressive Conservative Party would then have to ratify the deal before it became reality.
"I do think we're approaching something that is very historic in terms of not just this country, but in terms of practices around the world," Alliance Leader Stephen Harper said yesterday.
"It's not often that the political landscape is altered in a big way so quickly, but I think we're very close to doing that."
Tory Leader Peter MacKay said the recent period has been tough for Canadian conservatives, and assured his party members that they would have the final say on whether the deal is completed.
"My aim all along has been to build a bigger, better tent for conservatives in Canada," he said. "They've been looking for that. They've been crying out for that."
Conservative Canadians are hoping that a united right-wing party could end the vote-splitting that has given the Liberal Party successive majority governments in the past decade.
Mr. Harper and Mr. MacKay are to unveil the package at a news conference today.
The Tory Leader informed his caucus of the tentative agreement. Sources said that most caucus members agreed with the plan, although some voiced concern.
Members of both parties would be asked to ratify the deal in separate votes by Dec. 12.
Sources said the agreement calls for both sides to roll together their assets and liabilities, while reconstituting the parties' constituency associations. Members would be asked to buy new cards in the party.
The plan calls for a leadership vote to take place March 19-21.
The deal came together on Tuesday when Mr. Harper made a significant compromise on how the new party's leader would be elected.
Mr. Harper had been wanting a one-person, one-vote method, a system the Tories argued would allow the Alliance's strong Alberta membership to dominate.
The Tories said that each riding should have equal weight in the outcome, a proposal to which both parties eventually agreed.
The system gives each riding a total of 100 points toward the outcome, with candidates earning points based on votes received. For example, a candidate who receives 50 per cent of the votes cast in an individual riding receives 50 points.
Possible candidates for the top job include Mr. Harper and Mr. MacKay, as well as former Ontario premier Mike Harris and New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord. Other possible contestants include Tory MP Scott Brison and former Conservative leadership candidate Jim Prentice.
A political scientist said Canadians might be interested in the new entity depending upon its policies and the leadership.
University of Western Ontario professor Sid Noel said the new vehicle might be open to a leader like Mr. Harris. However, he said some moderate Canadian conservatives could bleed toward the federal Liberals if the party is seen as too right-wing.
"Given the number of federal seats in Ontario, the appeal of this new aggregation is critical," he said. Any new leader would also have the significant task of uniting the party, some of whose members are sure to be scarred from the unification.
"Given the number of federal seats in Ontario, the appeal of this new aggregation is critical," he said. Any new leader would also have the significant task of uniting the party, some of whose members are sure to be scarred from the unification.
Sources said the deal was finished up at around 2 a.m. Wednesday by party lawyers, who were called in after Mr. Harper, Mr. MacKay, Tory House Leader Loyola Hearn and former Reform MP Ray Speaker spoke on the telephone. Mr. Hearn and Mr. Speaker were part of a six-person emissary process under which the two parties negotiated over the summer. The two leaders took over the talks last week.
Sources say the two men also began talking by phone early yesterday to put the finishing touches on the deal.
The deal, if approved, would heal a 16-year rift within the conservative movement that began when Preston Manning founded the Reform Party.
Sources said yesterday that several significant political players, including former Ontario health minister Tony Clement and some premiers, telephoned Mr. Harper and Mr. MacKay on the weekend to ensure a deal was reached. Both leaders had indicated that negotiations could not proceed much past the Thanksgiving Day weekend because a new party would need time to get organized before an expected election expected this spring.
Of the two leaders, Mr. MacKay is expected to have a more difficult time selling the agreement. He urged party members who don't like the deal to take a hard look before voting against it.
Party backbenchers who are said to be against an accommodation include Quebec MP André Bachand, Manitoba's Rick Borotsik and former leader Joe Clark. Sources said Mr. Clark spoke on the issue during the party's caucus phone call.
Mr. MacKay will also have to face down the anger of defeated leadership candidate David Orchard, with whom he signed a deal for support at last June's Tory leadership convention in which he agreed not to merge the party with the Alliance.
Backers of Mr. Orchard signalled yesterday they were deeply disappointed.
"This has all the earmarks of a coup d'état," said Marjaleena Repo, a strong supporter of Mr. Orchard. Ms. Repo said the rank and file of the party have not been consulted.
A Tory source in Toronto said PCs there were preparing today to appoint a group to persuade party members that the deal is a good one.
Mr. Brison, who sought the leadership against Mr. MacKay, said the issue will undoubtedly polarize the Tories. He said he will fight to ensure that the new party is progressive on social policy.
"Part of my goal the next few weeks is to make sure I do feel comfortable with this outcome."
Former Ontario health minister Tony Clement, one of the founders of the Alliance, said the short time frame probably concentrated the minds of the two leaders to complete a deal.
"I think the Ontario electorate, with the right leader and the right platform, will reward a new party with seats," he said.
In Calgary, Mr. Harper cancelled a constituency meeting and boarded a plane for Ottawa to talk with Mr. MacKay.
"We're pretty optimistic, and we think we're going to have a conclusion pretty shortly," he said.
With reports from Dawn Walton and John Ibbitson
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