The Next Government of Canada: Strong,
United, Conservative.
March 23, 2005
Energized, focused and armed with a strong, detailed
set of policies we can take proudly into the next federal
election. That’s a brief summary of the results
of last weekend’s Conservative Party of Canada Policy
Convention in Montreal.
Conservative delegates had a big job ahead of them. It
was the party’s first convention since its creation
less than a year-and-a-half ago. The national news media
and our political opponents were, quite frankly, anticipating
headlines proclaiming our newly-united conservative movement
was on the verge of imploding. Boy, did we prove them
wrong!
Oh, there were some headlines following the first day
that attempted to overstate what was simply healthy and
thorough democratic debate on the convention floor. Having
witnessed first-hand how well events were proceeding,
some participants were heard to ponder that day whether
they were in the same city as some of our national media,
let alone the same convention!
Regardless, it quickly became obvious that the meeting
of more than 3,000 elected delegates and observers from
across Canada, was a tremendous success. Not only did
our leader Stephen Harper obtain the endorsement of 84
percent of delegates, the Conservative Party of Canada
accomplished what it had set out to do: offer Canadians
a strong, united, fiscally-responsible alternative to
the tired and corrupt Liberals.
Don’t take my word for it. Some headlines across
the country read: Tories displayed unity and maturity.
Harper lands right side up. Good weekend for democracy.
Energized Tories take it to the greying Grits. Even the
Toronto Star, a proudly Liberal-friendly newspaper titled
its editorial, PM more scary than Harper, then proceeded
to trash the Liberals’ record, Paul Martin’s
lack of vision and his cheap attempts to portray Stephen
Harper as scary.
I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Conservative
delegates resolved to offer policies to: restore the capability
of the Canadian Forces, cut taxes, ensure the long-term
future of Canadian farming, boost the availability of
post secondary education, offer long-overdue increases
in benefits for our veterans and seniors, ensure free
votes for MPs without threat of any disciplinary action
if they don’t toe the party line, really fix our
ailing healthcare system, scrap the gun registry, and
restore justice so that real criminals are held responsible
for their actions.
Canadians will have plenty of opportunity to scrutinize
each and every one of our new policies in the next federal
election.
Last, but certainly not least, I would like to express
my appreciation that, despite being the furthest riding
away with the exception of those in the territories and
Skeena-Bulkley Valley, Prince George-Peace River sent
a full slate of delegates and observers to the Conservative
convention. I’m very proud that so many people from
our riding dug into their own jeans to pony up the money
to attend this important event.
Theirs is the kind of dedication and willingness to actively
participate in our democratic process that continues to
motivate me to represent our great constituency, backed
by the same principles that prompted me to enter political
life nearly 17 years ago.
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