(OTTAWA) The founder of a precursor to the Conservative Party of Canada, Preston Manning, says the feelings behind this winter’s convoy protest in Ottawa can be a ‘huge source of political energy’, if properly harnessed .
Updated at 12:19 a.m.
The former Reform Party leader was in the capital to attend a three-day conference with other party stalwarts, MPs and members, organized by a conservative organization founded by Manning himself.
The Canada Strong and Free Network event took place amid a Conservative Party leadership race and months after police forcibly removed protesters speaking out against COVID-19 health measures as well as the Liberal government, after a week of occupation of the city.
Five of the six leadership candidates clashed repeatedly in the first informal debate on Thursday over whether or not they supported the protesters. Brampton, Ont., Mayor Patrick Brown did not participate.
The fight against vaccine and mask-wearing mandates has become a popular rallying cry for the party, including among leadership candidates Pierre Poilievre and Leslyn Lewis, who are counting on supporters’ opposition to COVID-19 measures. to sell memberships and raise funds.
Some described the race as a choice for members between embracing the kind of right-wing populism that rode the convoy, or trying to populate more of the political center to beat the three-term Liberal government.
Of the convoy, Mr Manning told reporters: “I think it’s a real expression of that populist sentiment which can be a huge source of political energy if properly managed and directed”, adding that it is the “challenge with populist movements. »
Mr. Manning cited his former Reform Party as an example. Born out of frustrations simmering in western Canada, the party has tried to channel that energy into constructive policies like balancing the budget and reforming the Senate instead of saying “let’s blow this country up,” he said. -he says.
The Reform Party later became the Canadian Alliance, which eventually merged with the federal Progressive Conservative Party to form the current Conservative Party.
Stick to conservative values
The interim federal Conservative leader believes that the party will not attract disappointed Liberals by becoming quasi-liberal, but rather by remaining true to its principles.
Candice Bergen made the statement in a video played in front of an audience of Conservative supporters and party stalwarts gathered in downtown Ottawa for a three-day conference of the “Canada Strong and Free” network.
In her video speech, she also discussed the convoy. She said it was one of the challenges the party caucus has had to deal with since the majority of its MPs voted to dump former leader Erin O’Toole in early February, shortly after the arrival of the protesters.
Mme Bergen, which recently tested positive for COVID-19, devoted much of her virtual speech to the importance of the party being proud of its conservative values and sticking to its principles.
She mentioned that one example occurred when the Conservatives decided to reject Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s use of the never-before-used Federal Emergency Act during the convoy protest. The demonstration in the capital ended after hundreds of police intervened to disperse the crowd, making dozens of arrests.
“We knew this could be tricky, given people’s impatience with the protests, especially here in Ottawa. But we made the decision to follow our values,” said Mr.me Bergen.
She argued that Justin Trudeau had pulled the Liberals further to the left on the Canadian political spectrum, leaving some older activists looking for another path.
Mme Bergen believes the Conservative Party can accommodate these disillusioned Liberals, but remain steadfastly true to its values.
“We don’t give them a place in our party by becoming light liberals,” she said. We welcome them into our conservative home by being consistently conservative. »
His journey to his current role has been paved, in part, by concerns from Tory MPs and party members about Mr O’Toole’s efforts to build support for the party. He moderated some of his policies, an approach that critics called “light liberal”.
The interim leader also encouraged candidates in the party’s leadership race to heed the advice given in a letter to all teams by former Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning: avoid personal attacks.