Difference between revisions of "Conservative Party of Canada"
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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 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]]. | ||
Revision as of 22:29, October 1, 2007
The Conservative Party of Canada, colloquially known as the Tories, is a 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 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.
The party is generally supportive of privatization, a smaller federal government, larger provincial governments, closer relations with the United States, fiscal conservatism, 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.
