Another Tory Name Change

Progressive Conservative Party, 1942-2003 (????): the longest kept constant name. the PC Party was formed in 1942 with the end of the Progressive Party. The Progressive Party was a farmer party which lost most of its support with the creation of the CCF but its Progressive Manitoba premier, John Bracken, went to the Conservatives if they would add Progressive to their name. Prime Ministers: John Diefenbaker (1957-1963), Joe Clark (1979-1980) Brian Mulroney (1984-1993) and Kim Campbell (1993).

As for the other rightest party, they were formed out of the remnants of the old Social Credit although there is no formal association.

Reform Party, 1987-2000: formed in a Winnipeg convention after the Reform Association of Canada decided earlier that year to create a new political party. Preston Manning, son of a Social Creditist, became their leader.

Canadian Conservative Reform Alliance Party, 2000: After two United Alternative conventions to form a single Right-Wing party, the party chose this name as their official name. After realising that the acronym spelt CCRAP, the changed it.

Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance Party, 2000-2003 (????): Under Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper the Reform movement lost momentum and saw a return to support for the old PC Party, and between the Day and Harper leadership saw the coalition of the PC with certain rebel Alliancists.

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Conservative Party 2003????: Talks between Stephen Harper and Peter McKay reveal plans for the parties membership to vote on a unification deal to create a strong right wing. This move has been supported by such prominent Tories as Brian Mulroney and Mike Harris. It has been opposed by former leadership candidate David Orchard (who says it betrays an agreement between McKay and himself) and former PM Joe Clark.

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