John,
Everyday I receive emails and comments on
social media suggesting that the only way forward is to join forces
with Pierre Poilievre’s so-called “Conservative” Party.
I am told he is the only one who can beat Trudeau and that I
should just give up and rejoin the CPC.
I have a simple
response to these misguided critics.
Merging is not
the solution.
In fact, it’s because of a merger that
we got stuck in this mess in the first place!
Stuck with a
centrist, so-called Conservative Party, that is terrified of
controversy and refuses to take actual conservative stances on the
major issues.
For those unfamiliar with the history of the
situation, the current Conservative Party was only formed in 2003 by
the merger between the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian
Alliance (formerly the Reform Party).
The Reform
Party/Canadian Alliance was a truly conservative, populist party
largely based in Western Canada.
It formed because
the political establishment was ignoring issues crucial to Western
Canada.
The party grew fast. After winning their first
seat, they elected 52 MPs in the general election and then formed the
Official Opposition the following election.
They were
on path to eventually form government, but they got anxious. They
thought they would not be able to win enough seats in Eastern Canada,
so they merged with the Progressive Conservatives.
On the
surface, this merger was a success. The new Conservative Party under
Stephen Harper was able to form three consecutive governments…
But in 2023, we have the benefit of
hindsight.
Harper did not really govern as a
conservative. He was guided by focus groups and polls, not principles
and values. He left no substantial legacy. Everything he accomplished
was undone in Trudeau’s first term.
And it’s only
gotten worse in the post-Harper era!
The party’s
establishment is dominated by individuals from the Progressive
Conservative wing of the party. Despite the Reform wing being more
popular prior to the merger, this wing is marginalized and ignored.
Poilievre and the CPC care only about power. Their
platform is also based on polling. They take their base for granted
and refuse to advocate for actual conservative ideas, regardless of
what is best for our country.
Despite never forming
government, the Reform Party (and subsequently the Canadian Alliance)
in the opposition benches were responsible for some of the most
conservative governance in recent history—arguably more conservative
than the Harper government.
Their ideas were clearly
articulated and widely popular. Jean Chrétien’s governing Liberals had
no choice but to adjust their policies if they wanted to stay in
power.
Despite not forming government, the Reform
Party moved the Overton Window—the range of political ideas acceptable
to the mainstream population—and made the country overall more
conservative.
It’s no secret that I’ve been inspired by
Preston Manning’s Reform Party.
However, I choose to
learn from the mistakes of the past instead of repeating
them.
The PPC will never merge with the
Conservatives. We will not be hijacked or placated by Progressive
Conservatives or Conservatives-in-name-only.
We will
continue to push the Overton Window to the right and advocate for real
conservative principles. Speak out on issues the CPC is too scared to
take on like mass immigration, transgender ideology, and climate
hysteria.
We will grow because our ideas are just and
true. The CPC will be forced to either adapt their position to be more
conservative, or to lose votes to us.
And we will win,
it is just a matter of time.
So to all those critics
asking me to disband the PPC or merge with Pierre Poilievre, save your
breath. I’m not interested.
I won’t repeat the mistakes of the
past.
I’ll keep fighting until we win.
Help me build the PPC into a credible
alternative with a $10 donation today.
Or
you can get involved as a volunteer, just respond to this
email!
Cheers,
-Max
P.S.: If you have
trouble finding where you can donate, you can just click this link! https://www.peoplespartyofcanada.ca/donate