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Beginning in 1896 when Quebec trans-
production, and social security programs.
ferred its primary allegiance to the Liberals,
The Progressive Conservatives, however, con-
and especially since 1921 with the advent of
sider their party to be the true defender of
Mackenzie King, the Conservative party has
free enterprise against the Liberals' remnants
been declining in influence and today holds
of wartime controls, against the threats of
only 41 seats as against 193 for the Liberals.
the Communists and the socialist Cooperative
The Progressive Conservatives received a
Commonwealth Federation Party, and against
startling set-back in the 1949 general election,
what they consider to be too much Liberal
polling only 30 percent of the popular vote,
centralization and direction from Ottawa.
losing 28 seats, and failing to win more than
Despite the Progressive Conservative Party's
two seats in the crucial province of Quebec,
present weakened position, it still remains the
where it had hoped to upset Liberal domi-
major opponent to the Liberal power and is
nance, through an unnatural alliance with
the only other party which can command sig-
the isolationist and anti-imperialist Union
nificant votes in every province of the Do-
Nationale party. Even in the party's chief
minion. Under Mr. Drew's leadership in the
province of Ontario the Progressive Conserv-
House of Commons the party will prove to be
atives' representation in the House of Com-
an active, if impotent, critic of the govern-
mons was cut from 48 to 25. This election
ment's policies. The party's future will de-
verdict appeared all the more remarkable in
pend in large measure on a rejuvenation and
view of the fact that under the vigorous new
clarification of its party principles to dis-
leadership of George Drew, ex-Premier of
tinguish them from those of the Liberals.
Ontario, the party had reason to consider
The Progressive Conservatives are histori-
itself a significant challenge to the Liberals.
cally a party of high tariffs and "big busi-
Provincially, the Progressive Conservatives
ness," and represent the governing economic
control only Ontario, the industrial heart of
class of Canada. They have also traditionally
Canada and the most populous province, but
been the most pro-Empire party in Canada.
even here they lost seats in the 1948 provin-
Fear of American economic domination, ris-
cial elections to the socialist Cooperative Com-
ing at times almost to the point of anti-
monwealth Federation. In the British Co-
Americanism, high US tariffs and hereditary
lumbia and Manitoba legislatures the Pro-
pro-British sympathies as well as long-stand-
gressive Conservatives are the lesser partners
ing economic ties with Britain provided the
with the Liberals in coalition governments;
basis for this stand. In the present postwar
in the politically important province of
period, however, confronted with the threat of
French-Canadian Quebec the party has vir-
socialism and Communism, certain members
tually no strength. In all other provinces it
of the party have evinced increasing realiza-
is weak.
tion that Canada must look to the US as the
The decline of the Progressive Conservative
last citadel of old-fashioned free enterprise and
Party prior to Mr. Drew's taking over the
the best protection against the USSR. Along
reins in October 1948 was largely owing to the
with the Liberals it therefore calls for closer
poor leadership of earlier party chiefs; it has
economic ties with the US to compensate for
also resulted from the party's failure to make
loss of markets in the UK and other countries,
clear any distinctive principles for which it
and desires close defense relations with the US
stood or to offer any positive alternative to
as well as the continuation of "loyal partner-
the things already provided or promised by
ship" with the British Commonwealth of Na-
the Liberals. The fundamental difference
tions and of good markets in the United King-
between the two major parties appears, there-
dom. In the field of international trade the
fore, to be one of emphasis and degree rather
party policy also now parallels that of the Lib-
than of substance. Both believe in provin-
erals, since the Progressive Conservatives
cial rights (though the Progressive Conser-
have reversed their traditional advocacy of
vatives harp more ardently on this theme), in
high protection to one of trade agreements
individual freedom, free enterprise, maximum
and a reciprocal lowering of tariffs.
SECR
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"ocrText": "12\nBeginning in 1896 when Quebec trans-\nproduction, and social security programs.\nferred its primary allegiance to the Liberals,\nThe Progressive Conservatives, however, con-\nand especially since 1921 with the advent of\nsider their party to be the true defender of\nMackenzie King, the Conservative party has\nfree enterprise against the Liberals' remnants\nbeen declining in influence and today holds\nof wartime controls, against the threats of\nonly 41 seats as against 193 for the Liberals.\nthe Communists and the socialist Cooperative\nThe Progressive Conservatives received a\nCommonwealth Federation Party, and against\nstartling set-back in the 1949 general election,\nwhat they consider to be too much Liberal\npolling only 30 percent of the popular vote,\ncentralization and direction from Ottawa.\nlosing 28 seats, and failing to win more than\nDespite the Progressive Conservative Party's\ntwo seats in the crucial province of Quebec,\npresent weakened position, it still remains the\nwhere it had hoped to upset Liberal domi-\nmajor opponent to the Liberal power and is\nnance, through an unnatural alliance with\nthe only other party which can command sig-\nthe isolationist and anti-imperialist Union\nnificant votes in every province of the Do-\nNationale party. Even in the party's chief\nminion. Under Mr. Drew's leadership in the\nprovince of Ontario the Progressive Conserv-\nHouse of Commons the party will prove to be\natives' representation in the House of Com-\nan active, if impotent, critic of the govern-\nmons was cut from 48 to 25. This election\nment's policies. The party's future will de-\nverdict appeared all the more remarkable in\npend in large measure on a rejuvenation and\nview of the fact that under the vigorous new\nclarification of its party principles to dis-\nleadership of George Drew, ex-Premier of\ntinguish them from those of the Liberals.\nOntario, the party had reason to consider\nThe Progressive Conservatives are histori-\nitself a significant challenge to the Liberals.\ncally a party of high tariffs and \"big busi-\nProvincially, the Progressive Conservatives\nness,\" and represent the governing economic\ncontrol only Ontario, the industrial heart of\nclass of Canada. They have also traditionally\nCanada and the most populous province, but\nbeen the most pro-Empire party in Canada.\neven here they lost seats in the 1948 provin-\nFear of American economic domination, ris-\ncial elections to the socialist Cooperative Com-\ning at times almost to the point of anti-\nmonwealth Federation. In the British Co-\nAmericanism, high US tariffs and hereditary\nlumbia and Manitoba legislatures the Pro-\npro-British sympathies as well as long-stand-\ngressive Conservatives are the lesser partners\ning economic ties with Britain provided the\nwith the Liberals in coalition governments;\nbasis for this stand. In the present postwar\nin the politically important province of\nperiod, however, confronted with the threat of\nFrench-Canadian Quebec the party has vir-\nsocialism and Communism, certain members\ntually no strength. In all other provinces it\nof the party have evinced increasing realiza-\nis weak.\ntion that Canada must look to the US as the\nThe decline of the Progressive Conservative\nlast citadel of old-fashioned free enterprise and\nParty prior to Mr. Drew's taking over the\nthe best protection against the USSR. Along\nreins in October 1948 was largely owing to the\nwith the Liberals it therefore calls for closer\npoor leadership of earlier party chiefs; it has\neconomic ties with the US to compensate for\nalso resulted from the party's failure to make\nloss of markets in the UK and other countries,\nclear any distinctive principles for which it\nand desires close defense relations with the US\nstood or to offer any positive alternative to\nas well as the continuation of \"loyal partner-\nthe things already provided or promised by\nship\" with the British Commonwealth of Na-\nthe Liberals. The fundamental difference\ntions and of good markets in the United King-\nbetween the two major parties appears, there-\ndom. In the field of international trade the\nfore, to be one of emphasis and degree rather\nparty policy also now parallels that of the Lib-\nthan of substance. Both believe in provin-\nerals, since the Progressive Conservatives\ncial rights (though the Progressive Conser-\nhave reversed their traditional advocacy of\nvatives harp more ardently on this theme), in\nhigh protection to one of trade agreements\nindividual freedom, free enterprise, maximum\nand a reciprocal lowering of tariffs.\nSECR"
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