Peter
MacKay issues statement concerning agreement-in-principle with the
Canadian Alliance
For
Immediate Release
(OTTAWA),
Thursday, October 16, 2003 - The leader of the Progressive Conservative
Party of Canada, Peter MacKay, today issued the following statement
concerning the agreement-in-principle reached between his party and the
Canadian Alliance.
"Good
morning, ladies and gentlemen.
We
are announcing today an agreement in principle for the union of our
parties and the re-union of conservatives across Canada.
Today
we start to build a bigger conservative family, and a new partnership for
Canada.
Cette
entente représente un point tournant dans l'histoire du mouvement conservateur
au Canada.
This
agreement is the result of tough negotiating over two months.
The framework was firmly in place two weeks ago, but we needed to
get the principles and values right.
The
result is not only an agreement in principle. It is a principled
agreement.
The agreement stresses values integral to the PC Party of Canada.
They include:
Equality
between the parties;
Equality
of the ridings;
A
national party reaching out to all Canadians;
Fiscal
accountability and progressive social policy;
Free
and fair trade;
Respect
for Canada's diversity and official languages: and
Protecting
our environment for future generations.
Last
evening, my Caucus considered the agreement in principle and there was
strong support to have this agreement placed before our Management
Committee and Party membership for consideration and ratification.
The
full text of the agreement is today being provided to members of my
party
for consideration, and as I have said all along, they will have an
opportunity to approve it in December.
At
the Management Committee of the PC Party next Saturday, October 25, here
in Ottawa, I will be asking members of the Committee to consider the
process for ratification.
I
am confident - as are the majority of my caucus colleagues - that, after
due consideration, our members will ratify this agreement-in-principle
with enthusiasm.
Why
is it important that we reach this agreement now?
Because
the next general election is imminent.
Because Canadians want a choice - a real choice - in the direction
of their country.
At
the riding level, our members want to stop the vote splitting that has
pitted friend against friend, neighbour against neighbour, Conservatives
against Conservatives* vote splitting that has hobbled the conservative
movement in Canada, and resulted in what amounts to a one-party state.
Never
in the history of this country have we faced an election with so many
people conceding the outcome, even before the writ is dropped.
That is the real democratic deficit this country faces.
Once
accepted by our members, this agreement ends vote-splitting.
It means that 2 plus 2 will equal more than 4 - it means winning.
The
Conservative Party is the party that founded Canada.
It
is the party that will now give voice to Canadians tired of a Liberal
government that has eroded health care, paralysed our military and damaged
our international reputation, and squandered the trust of Canadians with
scandal after scandal.
Je
suis convaincu que l'union fait la force.
Notre
nouveau partenariat offrira aux Québécois et aux Canadiens
une
véritable
alternative nationale.
Je
suis confiant que nous allons bientôt revoir les conservateurs au
pouvoir.
By
acting now, Canadians will now have a choice.
Let
me be clear on this point: It
is not our goal to be a strong
opposition.
Our goal is to be a strong government.
I
would like to thank again publicly the PC emissaries for their excellent
work, and in helping us arrive at this agreement: the Right Honourable Don
Mazankowski; the Honourable William Davis; and PC House Leader Loyola
Hearn.
Their
input was critical.
I
want to thank my caucus for their support and guidance.
This has been a challenging process for all us.
I
want to thank the membership of the PC Party for the confidence they have
shown - confidence and support shown through countless emails, letters and
phone calls.
I
also would like to commend Stephen Harper and members of the Canadian
Alliance
for their determination to carry this through.
This
is not the final hurdle. But
I think it is a major step forward. I
intend to play an active role in the ratification process, and I encourage
Canadians in all regions to join us in this historic initiative.
Most
of all, I look forward to the day - which is coming very soon – when
Canadians can choose to make a national, competitive
and principled Conservative Party the Government of Canada."
