Revisionist rubbish

Ever since the Progressive Conservative party merged (many say illegally) with the Canadian Alliance party in late 2003, Joe Hueglin has been an active and vociferous critic of the resulting Conservative Party of Canada. So much so that he and a band of former disgruntled Progressive Conservatives, including former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, Sinclair Stevens, formed the 'Progressive Canadian' party. I've been following them from the sidelines since the early days, mostly because of Hueglin's unceasing commitment to sending out 'Daily Digest' emails and critiques.

It was not without some irony that I noted the Digest he sent out last Wednesday featured a column from the Globe and Mail entitled: The Resurgence of the Red Tory brand. In it, author Lawrence Martin makes a rather feeble case for why moderate Tories should feel validated that, despite the Conservative Party's attempts to govern from a strict right-wing ideological perspective, their policies always seem to moderate. He cites a host of examples and innocuously calls the Harper's Government the 'better late than never' gang.

Not only is this type of article dangerous, I would venture to call it revisionist.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and many of the same characters that have been around since the Reform Party days, the Canadian Alliance Party days, and the Canadian Reform Alliance Party (CRAP) days, are running the 'new' Conservative Party. These jokers have not moderated their views. They have not magically become a gang of compassionate, informed, educated individuals.

(By the way, is it just me? I can't help but laugh -- I'd be crying otherwise -- every time I see Stockwell Day speak on TV. Enjoy this Jet Ski photo at left, remembering that Mr. Day is Minister for International Trade and represents all Canadians. Maybe we can get him to Jet Ski to China?).

The Party's recent restraint comes from necessity and self-preservation, not altruism or reality. These are the worst types of politicians and Canadians should be wary of engaging with what is a regional party in national party clothing. When the economy was in a tailspin last October, the Conservatives took a hard line approach, saying everything was fine. When the Conservatives were under threat of collapse by an alternate minority coalition government, the Prime Minister sought shelter by lying to Canadians about the legality of replacing their government and then abused the Constitution and somehow persuaded the Governor General to prorogue Parliament. In effect, the Conservative Party had an extra-long holiday break and left Canadians without due representation in what was arguably one of the most important periods of modern history.

The list goes on: on global warming, the Conservatives have made a mockery of international processes. On medical isotopes, the Conservatives have been unresponsive to the needs of patients by getting Chalk River running again. On agriculture issues, the Conservatives have whittled away at institutions like the Canadian Wheat Board, effectively putting our farmers in a less protected and vulnerable position. In my mind -- the environment, the medical industry, and our farmers deserve better.

As long as the petro-dollars keep flowing into Alberta coffers, the Conservative Party will have a Western base and the funding to continue to compete in politics on a national level. But any responsible politician, driven by a true calling for public service and to serve his or her country with repute, would never be so short sighted; we have had plenty of forward-thinkers in the past. Harper and his Conservatives are more likely to join the club of Tupper, Abbott and Bowell -- all short-term Prime Ministers -- than the pantheon of great Canadian politicians like Macdonald, Laurier, Trudeau and Chretien.

In a sense, we need to thank patriots like Joe Hueglin and others across this country -- all voices in the wilderness. For now.