Harper, MacKay unwrap new Conservative Party
Last Updated Thu, 16 Oct 2003 11:11:50
OTTAWA - The anticipation of what he called a "historic" and "very exciting day" kept Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper from sleeping, he said on Thursday.
Harper joked with reporters at the start of a news conference where he and Tory Leader Peter MacKay announced their parties had reached an agreement in principle to unite under one banner in time for the next election.
"It's like Christmas," Harper said. "I have a reputation of not getting excited too often, but I actually had difficulty sleeping last night."
The two leaders unwrapped what they would both call a gift to the Canadian people: a new conservative party to be called, of all things, the Conservative Party of Canada.
"Today we start to build a bigger conservative family," MacKay said.
The agreement in principle has been in the works for two months. Both parties now must ratify the deal.
With a federal election looming within a year, the plan is for the new party to run candidates in every riding across the country. All Tory or Alliance nominations already in place would be void.
Harper said the governing Liberals would no longer be able stand for re-election with a divided opposition.
"Our swords will henceforth be pointed at the Liberals, not at each other," he said.
"Vote splitting has hobbled the conservative movement in this country for years," said MacKay.
Both parties come out winners in the deal, Harper said. "I have absolutely no doubt that the Canadian electorate is the greatest winner."
MacKay, who earlier this year at the Progressive Conservative leadership convention promised rival David Orchard not to pursue a deal with the Alliance, denied he had broken that vow.
"I've kept my commitments to David Orchard," he said.
Both men said they would wait before deciding if they would seek the leadership of the new party.
cbc.ca |
