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05/31/2003 Archived Entry: "Has MacKay Sold The Canadian Right Down The River?"

HAS MACKAY SOLD THE RIGHT DOWN THE RIVER?: Orchard's downright creepy supporters look like they're going to follow their leader right over to MacKay. Orchard and MacKay's Gentlemen's Agreement seems to consist of this:

1. An appointed Blue Ribbon commission from within the Progressive Conservative Party to systematically "review" NAFTA to determine both positive and negative effects with Orchard playing a "considerable role" in that review, whatever that means. MacKay points out that such a review is built into the NAFTA agreement itself and he seems convinced that the results of this review will vindicate Free Trade, something which will not make Orchard supporters very happy.

2. The placing of argricultural and clean environmental policies "front-and-centre" on the Progressive Conservative platform.

3. They were rather vague about it, but it sure sounds like Orchard is going to be running for a seat in the next election.

4. No merger with the Canadian Alliance and no breaking of the 301 rule, while means there won't be any running of joint candidates with the Canadian Alliance.

With the exception of the fourth item, I'd have to say that MacKay bought Orchard's support pretty cheaply. A Blue Ribbon panel appointed from within the very party that negotiated NAFTA is not exactly going to turn around and bash the agreement, especially when the new leader of that party has publicly stated that Free Trade is one of the greatest Canadian economic policies of the last century. You hate to break this to the Orchard people, but the results of this review are well, "fixed." The second item on the list is just vague. Having Orchard sitting around the Progressive Conservative Caucus table will be, uh, fun, but given the clear amount of very strong grassroots support he can elicit, I suppose it's fair enough to allow him a chance to win a seat in Parliament. I mean leftists who don't like the NDP and Canadians who admire the economic policies of Ross Perot and Patrick J. Buchanan should have at least one voice in Parliament to represent them, don't you think? As for the last item on the list, well, it's just idiotic that we're going to be vote-splitting again with the Canadian Alliance, especially against a formidable candidate who has considerable appeal to the economic right such as Paul Martin. That's all I have to say about that. This convention has resolved none of the contradictions that exist in the Progressive Conservative Party. It seems the party's supporters are taking their name a bit too literally again.