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[[Image:649px-Conservative Party of Canada.png|right|thumb]]

[[Image:649px-Conservative Party of Canada.png|right|thumb]]

The '''Conservative Party of Canada''' was formed by an amalgamation of the Progressive-Conservative Party of [[Canada]], and the Canadian Alliance. This effectively united the right-of-center Canadians under one common banner, allowing for much greater success in the most recent election. Its current party leader is [[Stephen Harper]], who is also the current Prime Minister of Canada.

The '''Conservative Party of Canada''' is a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[political party]], formed after the 2003 amalgamation of the national [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] and the [[Canadian Alliance]. The party united right-of-center Canadians under one common banner and won a [[minority government]] in 2006, ending a 13-year reign by the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. The current party leader, and [[Prime Minister of Canada]], is the Right Honourable [[Stephen Harper]].

After the defeat of Prime Minister [[Kim Campbell]] and the Progressive-Conservatives in the General Election of 1993, the Progressive-Conservatives were reduced to just two seats in the House of Commons. Another right-of-center party, the Reform Party, gained 52 seats in that election. In 2000, the Reform Party changed its name to the "Canadian Alliance." After a decade of proving ineffective as many [[conservative]] Canadians had trouble being represented by a vote split between the Canadian Alliance and the members of the Progressive-Conservatives, the PCs and the Alliance merged in 2003 to form the Conservative Party of Canada.

After the 1993 defeat of the Canada's only female Prime Minister, [[Kim Campbell]], the Progressive Conservatives were reduced to just two seats in the House of Commons. Another right-of-center party, the [[Reform Party]], gained 52 seats in that election. In 2000, the Reform Party changed its name to the Canadian Alliance. After a decade of split votes between the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance, the parties merged.

Many [[liberal]]s are critical of the party's views with respect to issues of "social freedom", such as [[same-sex "marriage"]]. The conservatives followed through with their promise to open up the issue of same-sex "marriage" for debate again in the House of Commons. However, as a result, there were no changes to current legislation.

The party is generally supportive of privatization, a smaller federal government, larger provincial governments, closer relations with the [[United States]], [[fiscal conservatism]], [[Canadian Senate|Senate reform]], and a stronger military. The party opposes legalization of [[cannabis]], and held a free-vote on reopening the issue of [[same-sex "marriage"]], which was ultimately defeated. They have also motioned for fixed election dates, raising both supporters and detractors among all Canadian political parties, and for government transparency and accountability.

== See also ==

== See also ==