Clark refuses to join new party

Globe and Mail ^ | December 9, 2003 | Allison Dunfield

[Loyalist]

Former Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark says he will not join the new Conservative Party of Canada.

"I will not be sitting as a member of the caucus of the new party. What's happened to us has been hard for me, obviously."

"Some equate it to a death in the family, I regard it rather as the death of the family," Mr. Clark told reporters Monday.

He made the announcement in Ottawa, where the Tories are holding a caucus meeting Monday in Ottawa to hash out the details of their merger with the Canadian Alliance.

As well, Progressive Conservative MP André Bachand announced that he will not run for the new party in the next election.

Mr. Bachand, a Quebec MP, says the new party is too right wing, so he will sit as an Independent in the House of Commons.

Mr. Bachand has been wary of the merger and has done nothing to quell speculation that the Liberals are trying to recruit him.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Bachand told globeandmail.com on Monday that the Quebec MP will mull over his future over the Christmas holidays.

"I'm not leaving the boat, the boat is not there any more," Mr. Bachand said Monday, expressing regret over the demise of the old Tories.

The deputy leader of the Progressive Conservatives was a candidate in the last PC leadership race but pulled out two weeks before it was held and threw his support behind Tory Leader Peter MacKay.

A third Tory MP, John Herron, like Mr. Clark, said he has notified Speaker Peter Milliken that he will continue serving out his current term and will keep calling himself a Progressive Conservative — the old party name ditched in the merger.

A number of other Tory MPs including Scott Brison and Rick Borotsik, are considering their future under the new Conservative Party of Canada's banner. The party was created over the weekend after both memberships voted overwhelmingly — more than 90 per cent in favour — of a merger.

[jjlkovacs]

Forget Clark. This merger is a good thing for Canada. Clark is yesterday's man.

[headsonpikes]

Clark is yesterday's man.

Clark was yesterday's man 10 years ago! What a pompous ass!

[GMMAC]

If it wasn't for the damned cold up here, doubtless many would right now be rending their garments to bemoan this tragedy as word of this seemingly insurmountable loss spreads across the land.

On farms and in factories throughout the nation, ordinary Canadians are turning to one and other and asking "So how about those Leafs, eh?"

However, though Parliament will soon likely lose a mighty speach maker and one who unlike many former Prime Ministers persistently refused to drop dead, its loss could well be Calgary's gain since Mr. Clark will then be free to devote his full banality, remarkable pompousity and flair for political misjudgment into becoming the permanent Grand Marshall in its Gay Pride Parade!

Oh Joe, we knew ye all too well - sniff.

[Impy]

Jerk. Does he want the Franco-Liberals to stay in power? CINO.

[headsonpikes]

Joe Clark would make a great Emperor of Ponoka.

We can all chip in to buy him a snazzy uniform.