Chandler
chases Tory nod
By
Graeme McElheran
Calgary Herald, January 25, 2003
Craig
Chandler, former Reform Party candidate and Canadian Alliance member,
has announced his bid for the leadership of the federal Progressive
Conservatives.
In
an effort to bring the country's two right-wing parties together,
Chandler's campaign will be dedicated to the "www.2cards.ca" project,
inviting right-wing voters to purchase memberships in both parties.
"Having
two memberships ensures that there will be a common focus at policy
conventions and a common version at leadership conventions."
Chandler,
president of Progressive Group for Independent Business, said unity
between the two estranged groups is the essential plank of his campaign
platform.
"I'm
like a child whose parents are separated," Chandler said. "The Conservative
party is my mom, the Alliance party is my dad, and I'm trying to
get them back together.
"If we don't unite we are going to have the federal Liberals for
government for eternity."
Chandler
says he would call the united party the Conservative Party - hearkening
back to the confederation party led by Sir John A. MacDonald.
Tory
and Alliance leaders Joe Clark and Stephen Harper continue to be
divided over policy issues, making a merger unlikely.
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