Former Progressive Conservative leadership candidate David Orchard broke his silence on the Canadian Alliance-PC merger deal Friday, accusing Tory leader Peter MacKay of betraying his party and turning his back on the Conservative movement in Canada.
He also vowed to fight the merger to the bitter end.
"I'm opposed to the destruction of the Progressive Conservative party," Mr. Orchard said. "As far as I'm concerned this agreement is not democratic, is not fair and is not good for our party."
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- What was said
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Mr. Orchard struck a convention-floor deal with Mr. MacKay at last June's Tory leadership convention in which the Tory leader agreed not to merge the party with the Alliance.
Mr. Orchard appeared before reporters in Ottawa Friday with that deal in hand.
"I gave Peter the kind of loyalty I gave Mr. Clark before him and the same kind of loyalty I would expect if I had won the leadership of the party," he said. "Obviously all that has changed with the signing of this accord."
The Conservative Party of Canada, if formed, would be an "illegitimate creation conceived in deception and born in betrayal" Mr. Orchard said.
Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper and Mr. MacKay unveiled the pact Thursday morning, pledging to sell the pact to their various memberships.
Mr. MacKay and Mr. Orchard spoke about the deal by phone Thursday morning.
"I told him was a complete and utter betrayal of our agreement," Mr. Orchard said. "But more importantly, that it was a betrayal of the PC Party of Canada, its constitution and its history."
"... What he has done, in my view, is a breach of the trust of every member of our party."
Mr. MacKay insisted Thursday that he had honoured his deal with Mr. Orchard.
"I'm not trying to get around anything, I've kept my commitments," he said. "This is bigger than David Orchard or Stephen Harper or myself."
"This is about a decision for our membership and ultimately for Canadians. I believe it is a decision that is in the best interest of the country, it's a nation-building exercise."
An outspoken opponent of the North American Free Trade Agreement and fourth generation prairie farmer, Mr. Orchard said Friday that the deal is the result of a handful of elites taking control of the party from grassroots members over fear of Paul Martin.
Although Mr. Orchard refused to elaborate on how he would fight the merger outside of voting against it, his word will carry some weight.
He had solid support from about 25 per cent of the Progressive Conservative Party at the leadership convention and it has been suggested that 35 or 40 per cent of the party could be behind him by the time the vote on the merger is cast.
Mr. Orchard joins a chorus of high-profile Tories who has spoken out against the merger since the agreement was announced.
Former PC leader Joe Clark criticized the merger proposal on Thursday.
"The long-term result would be to make Canadian politics less competitive, by closing down the only national party whose base is broad enough to provide a genuine alternative to Liberal governments," Mr. Clark said. "This is about more than a name and a history. It is about a hard-won reputation as a party that is both inclusive and pan-Canadian."
"Speaking personally, I cannot support a proposal which would close down that party, and put at risk that reputation."
Tory deputy leader André Bachand and Manitoba MP Rick Borotsik also expressed concern about the deal.
However, a number of other high-profile Tories have come out in support of the deal and have put forth candidates they view as worthy.
Names being tossed around include Belinda Stronach, the Canadian corporate mogul who initiated and guided a historic merger of the Conservative and Alliance parties. But Ms. Stronach announced Friday she won't seek the new party's leadership.
Jim Prentice, a Calgary lawyer and former Tory leadership candidate, signalled Friday he's considering a leadership bid, but wouldn't say for sure whether he'd run.
Former Ontario premier Mike Harris, another potential candidate, was canvassing for input from across the country Friday as he pondered whether to run, sources said.
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein once again endorsed his former colleague and golfing buddy as the best choice to lead the new party.
"Mike has the street smarts, the political attitude, the political instinct that is necessary to lead the party. I just like his style," Mr. Klein said from Calgary.
"He has indicated that if the stars line up and everything is right and I think that a single conservative movement is right, then he might consider it."
Mr. Klein's words, along with a deluge of calls to Mr. Harris' advisers, will undoubtedly influence his choice, said former Ontario Alliance candidate Tom Long.
Another insider said Mr. Harris will take the weekend to think things over and survey public opinion before making his intentions known, likely sometime next week.
Others thought to be eyeing a leadership bid include Mr. Harper, Mr. MacKay, Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement, and former Alberta treasurer Jim Dinning.
New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord ruled himself out Thursday.
With reports from Canadian Press