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| | [[Image:649px-Conservative Party of Canada.png|right|thumb|Conservative Party of Canada LOGO]] | | [[Image:649px-Conservative Party of Canada.png|right|thumb|Conservative Party of Canada LOGO]] |
| − | The '''Conservative Party of Canada''', colloquially known as the '''Tories''', 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]]. | + | The '''Conservative Party of Canada''', colloquially known as the '''Tories''', 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 and right-wing 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]]. They currently have a majority government with 166 out of 308 seats. |
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| − | After the 1993 defeat of the Canada's only female Prime Minister, [[Kim Campbell]], the Progressive Conservatives a center-right party were reduced to just two seats in the House of Commons. Another right-wing party, the [[Reform Party of Canada|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. | + | After the 1993 defeat of the Canada's only female Prime Minister, [[Kim Campbell]], the Progressive Conservatives, a center-right party were reduced to just two seats in the House of Commons. Another right-wing party, the [[Reform Party of Canada|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. |
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| − | The party is generally supportive of privatization, a smaller federal government, larger provincial governments, closer relations with the [[United States]], [[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. | + | The party is generally supportive of privatization, a smaller federal government, larger provincial governments, closer relations with the [[United States]], [[Canadian Senate|Senate reform]], implementation of a two tier health care system, 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, removal of the per-vote subsidy, and for government accountability. |
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| | == See also == | | == See also == |