95.9% of Alliance voters agree to merger
- Orchard's anti-merger lawsuit dismissed
- Harper goes all out for nomination
- style="list-style: none">ALLISON DUNFIELD
Globe and Mail Update
Friday, December 05, 2003 Harper announces results of his party's backing of ratification process; Tories to announce vote outcome Saturday
An overwhelming 95.9 per cent of Canadian Alliance members who cast ballots on whether to merge with the Progressive Conservatives have voted in favour of the union.
A jubilant Stephen Harper, the Alliance Leader, announced the results of his party's ratification vote, conducted by mail-in ballots, in Ottawa on Friday.
"The envelope please," he joked as he prepared to make the announcement.
He called it a "historic day for all Conservatives across Canada" and "the dawning of a new era in politics."
"We are seeking to blend the history and the governing experience of the Progressive Conservative Party with the grassroots democracy and energy of the Canadian Alliance."
Approximately 53,300 of more than 90,000 ballots were returned by members, he said.
In his brief speech, Mr. Harper predicted the coming together of the two parties will enable the conservatives to topple the Liberal government.
Both the Alliance and Tory parties wanted the merger to be completed rapidly because a federal election is likely to be called next spring.
Friday's announcement wasn't much of a surprise - the party had been expected to give widespread support to the deal to create a new Conservative Party of Canada with the Tories.
Anticipating a successful ratification vote by the Tories, Mr. Harper is also beginning his campaign to run for the leadership of the new party.
He has already set up a staff and has put aside an anticipated budget of about $1.5 to $2-million to run the campaign.
All signs point to the likelihood that the Progressive Conservatives will also vote to ratify the merger during Saturday's virtual convention, although there has been more opposition among Tories.
Long-time party maverick David Orchard and 22 other Tories went to court Friday, arguing that the merger contravenes the Tories' constitution.
Their application was dismissed, however.
Tory strategist Geoff Norquay told CBC Newsworld on Friday that he expects the support of delegates at Saturday's convention (to be held virtually, by telephone) to be "solid."
He predicted that more than the two-thirds majority required by their party's constitution would vote to unite with the Alliance.
In a speech to the Rotary Club of Toronto on Friday, Tory Leader Peter MacKay also predicted a large majority of his members will vote in favour of the merger.
Final results will be announced mid-afternoon on Saturday.
Mr. MacKay said he is not worried that some Progressive Conservatives would feel the new party is simply the Alliance under another name.
"I have concerns, if that were to happen. But I'm very confident that the way that this partnership works and the way the formula is designed, each and every constituency in the country will have equal say, equal input into the selection of the new leader."
"This isn't going to be a domination of one party over another."
Mr. MacKay the new party must be inclusive in order to be competitive. "We have to ensure this party truly is... an open tent."
He is rumoured to be considering a bid for the leadership, along with Alliance MPs Brian Pallister and Chuck Strahl, Tory MP Scott Brison and Calgary lawyer Jim Prentice.
The first step after the ratification vote is to set up an interim council to begin setting out rules and policies for the new party. Membership of the council, to be comprised of six members from each party, will likely be determined next week.
Breakdown by province Votes in favour of the merger Newfoundland and Labrador - 95.5 per cent Nova Scotia - 93.1% New Brunswick - 95.3% PEI - 92.2% Quebec - 96.7% Ontario - 96.3% Manitoba - 95.1% Saskatchewan - 93.7% Alberta - 96.4% British Columbia - 95.1% NWT, Yukon, British Columbia - 95.3%