Harper Agrees To Tory Demands

[westcoast99]

Onus now on PC leader, says Stephen Harper

Sean Gordon

CanWest News Service

Saturday, October 11, 2003

OTTAWA - Stephen Harper, the leader of the Canadian Alliance, says he is willing to accept Tory demands for selecting the leader of a newly merged party if that is what it takes to break the stalemate in the talks to unite the right.

According to an internal memo circulated to the Alliance caucus, Mr. Harper is willing to capitulate on leadership selection and subscribe to the Tories' wish that a leader be selected at a delegated convention where all ridings have an equal voice.

But, in the same breath, the Alliance leader sounded a pessimistic note on the future of the negotiations, and put the onus squarely on Peter MacKay, the Tory leader.

"The lack of any spirit of compromise in my discussions with Peter indicates to me that a deal may be farther [away] than it appears on paper. Certainly, there are signs that, even if we were to paper over this particular disagreement, another could appear the moment we tried to implement anything," read the memo.

However, Mr. MacKay said earlier yesterday there is still hope of reaching a deal.

He also disputed the Alliance contention that he is being obstinate, likening the principle of riding equality to an "iron rod" because "it's not flexible; it is breakable."

"It's not just about the leadership selection, it's about building the party," he said. "We have been willing to find accommodation and to look for some element of give and take. And that's fair. But how can you move away from something as fundamental as equality? That's really what I struggle with. It's equal or it isn't."

According to the Alliance memo, the concessions on leadership would have to be accompanied by Tory acceptance of the Alliance method of using weighted ridings and double majorities at the new Conservative Party of Canada's founding convention. Each new policy and each article of the constitution would thus have to win support from a majority of delegates and also a majority of ridings.

Mr. MacKay pointed out that his party has compromised on its demands for riding equality by proposing a system under which each riding with at least 100 members would be given 100 points to elect a new leader -- a system the Tories used to select Joe Clark leader in 1998.

Mr. Harper countered earlier this week with a proposal to increase the points total to 500 per riding, specifying that actual votes, not memberships, would be used to accumulate points.

But that system, Mr. MacKay said, would not be fair and would undermine the overall concept of equality. "There can't be 'A' level ridings versus 'B' level ridings. That would leave an impression, I think, that would be un-Canadian... It would kill us with minority groups," he said.

Despite their apparent differences, Mr. MacKay said the two leaders, who chatted briefly by phone at midday yesterday, will speak again after the long weekend.

Mr. Harper was scheduled to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his family in Calgary, while Mr. MacKay will be in his riding in Nova Scotia.

"I think it's important that both of us reflect on this.... Sometimes, when it gets to a critical juncture, it is important to step back and gain some perspective. There'll be an ongoing dialogue, I guess," he said.

© Copyright 2003 National Post

[Neal.F.]

Peter MacKay seems to be playing Yasir Arafat's role, if we liken this merger dance to the peace talks of 2000.

In those talks, Israeli PM Ehud Barak had agreed to meet 97% of ArabRat's demands.

It seems here that Mr. Harper has gone nearly so far with Peter MacKay.

If MacKay does not sign on the dotted line now, he will be seen the same way as Yasir ArabRat is now seen: as someone who never really wanted peace, who did not come to the table in good faith.

The question now, is does Mr. MacKay want to come ton a deal that would allow a vibrant , new Conservative party to come into being that might actually give the martin MAchine a run for its money next time, or does he actually think that he can have 100% of what he wanted: The CA to fold, and fall in line under the PROGRESSIVE Conservative banner? (of course, under his wise leadership...)

I think at this pont, if he balks, he and his PROGRESSIVES will be written off by the public. The CA will be in a better position , but hurt nonetheless. However, they'll live to fight another day.