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Conservative Party Agreement-in-Principle
Free texts and images.
| Conservative Party Agreement-in-Principle written by Stephen Harper and Peter MacKay |
| The Conservative Party Agreement-in-Principle was signed on October 15, 2003, by Stephen Harper, Leader of the Canadian Alliance, and Peter MacKay, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, to create the new Conservative Party of Canada. It served as the initial constitution of the Conservative Party of Canada, and remained in force until it was replaced by a permanent constitution that had been drafted by a committee of the new party's Interim Joint Council. |
The Agreement-in-principle contained fourteen articles, each of which dealt with one of the most important areas of compromise between the two parties:
Article 1 declared that the name of the new party with be the 'Conservative Party of Canada.'
Article 2 emphasized the need to establish respect all participants in the merger process.
Article 3 set out the nineteen founding policy principles of the new party. Sixteen of these principles were taken verbatim from the constitution of the Progressive Conservative Party. Three principles were added by the emissaries who negotiated the merger:
- equal status for French and English in federal institutions,
- support for universal health care, regardless of ability to pay, and
- support for free trade.
Articles 4 and 5 dealt with the process for selecting the party's first leader. A preferential ballot was to be used, with all votes added up and allocated within each of Canada's 301 ridings. Each riding will be weighted equally, regardless of the number of ballots cast in that riding. The candidate who wins the largest number of points would be the winner of the leadership contest. This means that in theory, it would have been possible for a candidate to win the leadership with fewer votes than the number received by an opponent, if the opponent's votes had been concentrated in ridings where large numbers of ballots had been cast.
Article 6 emphasized that the process used for the first leadership election, in which all ridings are weighted equally, need not be used in later leadership races.
Article 7 established rules for the issuance of memberships in the new party.
Article 8 established a temporary national council, to be called the "Interim Joint Council." Among its other duties, the Interim Joint Council was responsible for drafting the first constitution of the new party.
Articles 9 and 10 transferred the assets of the merged parties to the new party, and established a fundraising arm.
Articles 11 and 12 established timelines and rules for some key events, starting with an immediate freeze on nominations and continuing through to the end of the leadership race in March 2004.
Article 13 established the rules for delegate selection for the party's founding convention. As with the leadership race, representation at the founding convention was to be "based on equality of ridings." Each riding would send an equal number of delegates to the convention, regardless of the number of members living in that riding. As with the rules for the leadership race, the equality of ridings was not made permanent. Article 13 also specified that at the first convention, all changes to the draft constitution would require a double majority (a majority of all delegates, and also a majority of provincial delegations).
Article 14 froze all nominations for Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative candidates in the upcoming election, so that all future candidates would be nominated by members of the merged party.
Full Text
The following is the full text of the Agreement-in-Principle.
Agreement-in-principle on the establishment of the Conservative Party of Canada
We agree to place the following recommendations before our respective caucuses and party membership for consideration:
1. Name of the party
The name of the new party will be the “Conservative Party of Canada”.
2. Principles governing the relationship between the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and the Canadian Alliance
a. The Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party will treat each other as equal partners;
b. The Conservative Party of Canada will promote and maintain relationships with existing provincial Progressive Conservative parties and will not establish provincial parties;
c. We will create a national force that reaches out to all Canadians, not just like-minded conservatives.
3. Founding principles
The Conservative Party of Canada will be guided in its constitutional framework and its policy basis by the following principles:
• A balance between fiscal accountability, progressive social policy and individual rights and responsibilities;
• Build a national coalition of people who share these beliefs and who reflect the regional, cultural and socio-economic diversity of Canada;
• Develop this coalition, embracing our differences and respecting our traditions, yet honoring a concept of Canada as the greater sum of strong parts;
• The Conservative Party of Canada will operate in a manner accountable and responsive to its members;
• A belief in loyalty to a sovereign and united Canada governed in accordance with the Constitution of Canada, the supremacy of democratic parliamentary institutions and the rule of law;
• A belief in the equality of all Canadians;
• A belief in the freedom of the individual, including freedom of speech, worship and assembly;
• A belief in our constitutional monarchy, the institutions of Parliament and the democratic process;
• A belief in the federal system of government as the best expression of the diversity of our country, and in the desirability of strong provincial and territorial governments;
• A belief that English and French have equality of status, and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada;
• A belief that the best guarantors of the prosperity and well-being of the people of Canada are:
o The freedom of individual Canadians to pursue their enlightened and legitimate self-interest within a competitive economy;
o The freedom of individual Canadians to enjoy the fruits of their labour to the greatest possible extent; and
o The right to own property;
• A belief that a responsible government must be fiscally prudent and should be limited to those responsibilities which cannot be discharged reasonably by the individual or others;
• A belief that it is the responsibility of individuals to provide for themselves, their families and their dependents, while recognizing that government must respond to those who require assistance and compassion;
• A belief that the purpose of Canada as a nation state and its government, guided by reflective and prudent leadership, is to create a climate wherein individual initiative is rewarded, excellence is pursued, security and privacy of the individual is provided and prosperity is guaranteed by a free competitive market economy;
• A belief that the quality of the environment is a vital part of our heritage to be protected by each generation for the next;
• A belief that Canada should accept its obligations among the nations of the world;
• A belief that good and responsible government is attentive to the people it represents and has representatives who at all times conduct themselves in an ethical manner and display integrity, honesty and concern for the best interest of all;
• A belief that all Canadians should have reasonable access to quality health care regardless of their ability to pay; and
• A belief that the greatest potential for achieving social and economic objectives is under a global trading regime that is free and fair.
4. Leadership Election Organizing Committee
The PC Party and the Alliance will each appoint between two and four individuals to the Leadership Election Organizing Committee with a Chair or Co-chairs mutually agreed upon by the members of the Committee, no later than December 15, 2003. The committee shall retain such auditors as are necessary to ensure fair and effective conduct of the process, including verification of membership.
5. Leadership selection
The leadership will be decided on March 19-21, 2004. The Leadership will be conducted on a One-Member, One-Vote Point System:
o It is very similar to one-member, one-vote, but allows for each riding to be weighted equally, thus giving each riding access and importance in the process.
o Each riding is worth 100 points (i.e., 100%). Leadership candidates are assigned a point total based on their percentage of the vote in each riding. For example, if Candidate A received 50% of the vote, he or she gets 50 points. If Candidate B received 20% of the vote, he or she gets 20 points.
o To win, a candidate must obtain a majority of points from across the country.
o Preferential ballot (single transferable vote) will be used.
o To be eligible to vote, a person must be a member in good standing of the Conservative Party of Canada by February 29, 2004.
• The leadership election organizing committee will be responsible for the conduct of the leadership race and determining the method of voting, with a preference to voting in person at polling stations. At a minimum a leadership review vote will be conducted at a convention after a federal election where the Conservative Party does not form the government, and otherwise as may be specified in the constitution.
6. One-time process for leadership selection
The system used to elect the first Leader need not be used for later leadership elections and the membership of the Conservative Party of Canada could select an alternative method of electing future leaders.
7. Membership
Membership sales in the Conservative Party of Canada will begin no later than ten (10) days after completion of ratification by each of the PC Party and the Alliance. Membership in the Conservative Party will be open to anyone who, i) meets the criteria established by the Interim Joint Council, ii) signifies their intention to join the Party, and iii) pays the required membership fee. Upon fulfillment of these requirements, an individual’s name will be entered on the membership list which will be subject to periodic verification by independent auditors. Until membership sales in the Conservative Party commence, members who join or renew their membership in either the PC Party or the Alliance after October 15, 2003 will automatically become members of the Conservative Party.
8. Interim Joint Council
The PC Party and the Alliance will each appoint six individuals to an Interim Joint Council, with a Chair or Co-chairs mutually agreed upon by the members of the Council. In general that body will be responsible for:
a. Carrying out such actions as are necessary to give effect to this agreement;
b. Drafting and adopting a first constitution consistent with this agreement, which shall be subject to amendment at the first convention of the Conservative Party of Canada;
c. Establishing riding associations, including processes for the conduct of founding meetings, recognition of associations, and transfer of assets from the PC Party and Alliance riding associations to new Conservative Party riding associations. Riding associations should be founded no later than January 24, 2004;
d. Overseeing the development and implementation of rules and procedures to ensure fair and effective candidate recruitment, selection and training, according to the following principles:
(i) candidate selection is the right of the members resident in a riding who have been members for at least 21 days
(ii) candidate selection will be carried out at a meeting of those members with appropriate notice
(iii) the candidate must receive the support of greater than 50% of members who participate in the nomination procedure
e. Filings with Elections Canada (as necessary to give effect to this agreement);
f. Encouraging the participation and recruitment of youth in the Conservative Party of Canada; and,
g. Other responsibilities as assigned by the Leaders. In the event that a member of the Interim Joint Council becomes unable or unwilling to continue, then the Interim Joint Council may replace that individual. A replacement candidate must achieve the support of a majority of the nominees of each party, or their successors.
9. Conservative Fund Trust
The Conservative Fund Trust will be immediately established for the purposes of raising money, retiring the debt of either party, and funding activities related to the establishment and ratification of the Conservative Party. As soon as possible after ratification, the Conservative Fund Trust will be liquidated and proceeds will be turned over to the Conservative Fund Canada, which will be the fundraising arm of the Conservative Party.
10. Transfer of assets and liabilities and exchange of financial statements
The Conservative Party of Canada will assume all the rights, obligations, assets andliabilities of the PC Party and the Alliance. The parties will exchange current financial statements. Pending ratification, neither party shall incur significant new obligations. Upon ratification, the parties will provide the Interim Joint Council with up to date financial statements on an ongoing basis concerning the present financial condition of each party. The parties agree that the transfer of rights, obligations, assets and liabilities will be carried out on timelines and procedures established by the Interim Joint Council.
11. Completion of ratification
The leaders of the PC Party and the Alliance agree to take the required steps to achieve the support of their respective parties for this agreement as expeditiously as possible. This process is to be completed by December 12, 2003.
12. Critical path
The schedule of key milestones is annexed.
13. First convention
A first convention will be responsible for, (i) review and amendment of the constitution including the statement of principles; (ii) proposal and development of policies consistent with the statement of principles; (iii) election of a permanent governing body. The date and location will be determined at a later time by the Interim Joint Council, taking into account the resources required for the conduct of the leadership selection process, implementation of this agreement, re-distribution, and Bill C-24, as well as election timelines, all of which may make the holding of the first convention prior to the next election unachievable. It is noted that the Liberal government currently has legislation in the House to move up the effective date of riding re-distribution to April 1, 2004, in order to facilitate a snap spring election. Participation in the first convention will be based on equality of ridings, with each recognized riding association eligible to send an equal number of delegates (to be determined by the Interim Joint Council, but in any event no more than 12). Categories of ex-officio delegates will be designated by the Interim Joint Council through a doublemajority of the members named by the PC Party and the Alliance. The constitution, statement of principles and policies may be amended at the first convention by a double majority vote (majority of the votes cast by delegates, and a majority of the votes cast by delegates from a majority of individual provinces). All others matters of business may be conducted by simple majority.
14. Standstill on nominations
Pending ratification of this agreement, nomination meetings of the PC Party and the Alliance scheduled for after October 18, 2003 will be cancelled, and further nominations will be frozen.
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See also Sections 29, 29.1, and 29.2 for fair dealing. |
