Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
I guess it all depends on your POV. East of Manitoba, the Reform Party was seen as an "extreme fringe party", and the current CPC is largely regarded as a continuation of that party with much of the same leadership but a new name. Harper isn't even from Alberta originally, and his province of residence has absolutely nothing to do with his lack of appeal to Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic voters. When Joe Clark led the PC Party (and represented the Alberta riding of Calgary Centre), he had no problems winning votes in Eastern and Central Canada.
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It really is POV. I've always read that two major knocks on Reform were:
1. the same reason why the Bloc would be a colossal failure outside of Quebec. Ontarians and Maritimers felt that Reform was a misguided protest party, protesting against them. The CA was the first step to change that image, with a new leader... but they dropped the ball on that one.
2. The Social Conservatist streak personified by Stockwell Day (who succeeded in splintering the CA itself). This demon was largely exorcized with the election of a very libertarian leader in Harper, and his subsequent forcing to the outside many of the hardcore party members, who frankly, every party have in their fold.
One would think with 1 and 2 dealt with, the aura of Reform would be lost.
Lets also not forget Joe Clark was a minority leader when he was PM, was buoyed by the West, and only won because of Liberal discontent. He also oversaw the death of the PC Party, who failed to crack Ontario and Quebec with much force, with 20 and 12 seats under his watch. It could be said that he failed even moreso than Harper, Day and Manning did to lure Ontario. One can guess as to why, but with Clark considered to be the winner of the 2000 debate, it surely wasn't the PC policy people weren't voting for.