It's not the fiscal conservatism that turns people off the Conservatives, it's the social conservatism. It's things like the stance against gay marraige and trying to bring up the abortion debate again. That scares the beejeezus out of some people. The social conservative faction within the Conservatives (Canadian Family Action Coalition) will continue to be the albatross around the party's neck. The Conservatives are likely doomed in places like Ontario until the party can erase the perception that they are not the frikkin' boogie man. Better the devil you know, eh.
The liberal-apologist media (Toronto Star, Globe & Mail) loves to perpetrate this myth that the Conservatives would somehow dismantle health care, include the church into the parliamentary system and trample human rights by using the notwithstanding clause at every opportunity. They have a hey-dey everytime some stupid conservative MP has a brain fart on social issues. But when some wing nut like Carolyn Parrish slags Americans, well she's just a roque and it's not indicitive of the party thinking.
And part of the problem can be directly tied to leadership. Canadians don't want a political party that actually does anything. Chretien held power for a decade by doing as little as possible. Stephen Harper is a bright guy with some good ideas, but unfortunately for him he also has zip for charisma. He's about as appealing as a limp noodle. That's important to people who would prefer flash over substance from their elected leaders.
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