Is this What the Citizens of Canada Have Longed For?
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One Big Party: Canada's only Hope
By Paul Hellyer
A big new progressive pro-Canada party remains the only hope to save
Canada and keep it independent. A close look at the realpolitik makes
the case.
A lot of water has gone under the political bridge in the year 2003 and
there is more to come. First, the NDP held its leadership convention and
chose Toronto alderman Jack Layton to succeed Alexa McDonough. Layton
has a lot of experience at the municipal level where he championed the
causes of the poor and homeless without forgetting the infrastructure,
transportation and other requirements of a dynamic city as a generator
of wealth. Layton's interests are in many ways parallel to those of the
Canadian Action Party.
Then came the Progressive Conservative convention at the end of May and
June 1. Literally hundreds of CAPers took out PC memberships in order to
support David Orchard, a fellow nationalist, for the leadership. David
ran a strong campaign, raised the profile of the nationalist issue, and
used his 25% of the popular vote to be kingmaker in a controversial deal
with winner Peter MacKay.
Despite a valiant effort by Orchard and his loyal supporters, however,
the Conservative Party appears to be stubbornly committed to its old ways.
In his first newsletter following the convention, and later confirmed in
a speech to the Confederation Club on June 19, MacKay said: “Let me make
myself completely clear on this point. I completely and unequivocally
support NAFTA and the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. We created these
agreements. It will remain our policy bedrock – the crown jewel.”
Obviously, the PC party is still the party of Brian Mulroney, Conrad
Black, Peter White and the Bay Street continentalists and globalizers.
The Liberal Party is next. Paul Martin already has the November
convention sewn up, with Sheila Copps the only challenger remaining in
the race.
The net result of all this is that there is not a single ray of sunshine
on the political horizon for those of us who are concerned about the
future of this beautiful country. Martin is more popular than the
incumbent prime minister and, barring a miracle, he will sweep the
country in a 2004 election, picking up seats both in Quebec and Western
Canada.
The “Prime Minster in waiting,” as many are calling him, is already
committed to closer economic and military ties with the U.S., including
support for the Pentagon's National Missile Defense, which is only the
first step towards putting weapons of mass destruction in space. Martin
also favours Canada's participation in the FTAA, which will entrench the
infamous “national treatment” clause. So if Martin wins a majority in
the next election you can say “goodbye” Canada. only a miracle can save us.
Mercifully, a miracle is possible with the creation of a big, new,
broadly-based, progressive pro-Canada party, just like the one CAP has
been promoting for more than two years now. To be realistic, it would
have to begin with the merger of the NDP, CAP and one or two other small
parties to form the nucleus.
I stress the word nucleus because that would be just the beginning.
There are literally thousands of Orchard Tories, and other progressives
from that party, as well as Liberal and Alliance patriots, who would be
willing to sign on.
Once it actually begins to happen, support would snowball because there
are patriots of all political stripes yearning for a ray of hope.
A new, progressive pro-Canada party would give Canadians a real choice
when the election is held. It would be unlike the other parties in its
compassion for ordinary people and its love for Canada. Its pull would
be strong enough to activate many of the 39% of Canadians, especially
young people, who otherwise wouldn't bother to vote. At least they would
have a reason – the power to actually make a difference.
So, if you really love Canada – and I know you do because otherwise you
wouldn't have been interested in CAP in the first place – actively seek
out your NDP and PC friends, and other patriots, and get them excited
about the idea. This is one case where the grass roots really have the
power! So use it, or lose it. The choice is yours.
{Paul Hellyer is the leader of Canadian Action Party)
@ July 29, 2003