Progressive Canadian Party


The Progressive Canadian Party was a minor centre-right federal political party in Canada. It was registered with Elections Canada, the government's election agency, on March 29, 2004.
Under provisions of the Canada Elections Act that took effect on May 14, 2004, parties were only required to nominate one candidate in order to qualify for official party status in the June 28, 2004 federal election. This meant that Progressive Canadian Party candidates were listed on the ballot alongside the party's name, rather than being designated as independents.
The party was deregistered by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on November 30, 2019 for failing to comply with Canada Elections Act requirements set out in subsection 415.

Founding and 2004 election

Following the dissolution of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and its merger with the Canadian Alliance into the new Conservative Party of Canada, the Progressive Canadian Party was formed by "Red Tories" who opposed the merger. One of the organizers, Joe Hueglin, is a former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament from Niagara Falls, Ontario.
In announcing the new party, Hueglin stated that the party had about a dozen potential candidates and a mailing list of 330 names. The party nominated 16 candidates for the 2004 general election, mostly in southern Ontario and Nova Scotia.
The party held a national convention in 2005 to select a leader and to develop policies. It has also established the "Macdonald-Cartier PC Fund" to raise money for the party, under the direction of the Hon. Sinclair Stevens, who was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney before he was forced to resign on allegations of conflict of interest, for which he was subsequently cleared.
On November 17, 2005, the Federal Court of Appeal rejected Stevens' lawsuit to force Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley to rescind recognition of the merger of the Progressive Conservative Party with the Canadian Alliance. The court did rule, however, that Kingsley erred in not waiting 30 days to register the merger. Stevens appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada, but that court announced on April 27, 2006, that it would not hear the appeal by Sinclair Stevens. The court gave no reason for its decision.

2006 election

Founding party leader Ernie Schreiber resigned in 2005 because of a heart condition. The party appointed Tracy Parsons as his successor. The party nominated 25 candidates for the 2006 federal election. Former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister and leadership candidate Heward Grafftey stood as a candidate for the party during that election.

2011 election

RidingProvinceCandidateVotes%Placement
MacleodAlbertaBrad Carrigan17543.405/6
South Surrey—White Rock—CloverdaleBritish ColumbiaBrian Marlatt2280.397/9
Vancouver CentreBritish ColumbiaMichael Huenefeld2850.486/8
West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky CountryBritish ColumbiaRoger Lagassé2930.475/9
Hamilton East—Stoney CreekOntarioGord Hill4680.965/9
Newmarket—AuroraOntarioDorian Baxter9981.715/6
Oak Ridges—MarkhamOntarioJohn Siciliano10801.195/5
Ottawa SouthOntarioAl Gullon5130.875/6
Prince Edward—HastingsOntarioAndrew Skinner1710.316/6

2015 election

In the 2015 election, the party ran eight candidates, none of whom were elected with five getting the fewest votes in their riding.
RidingProvinceCandidateVotes%Placement
Etobicoke CentreOntarioRob Wolvin3780.65/5
Newmarket—AuroraOntarioDorian Baxter7621.35/5
Ottawa SouthOntarioAl Gullon3610.65/7
Toronto—DanforthOntarioJohn Richardson1,2752.35/6
Calgary SkyviewAlbertaNajeeb Butt9572.14/9
Prince George—Peace River—Northern RockiesBritish ColumbiaBarry Blackman4640.95/5
South Surrey-White RockBritish ColumbiaBrian Marlatt1080.25/5
Vancouver SouthBritish ColumbiaRaj Gupta1670.36/6

Platform and goals

The new PC Party aims to be the successor to the former Progressive Conservative Party. A few prominent figures are associated with this new party. David Orchard, a fervent opponent of the merger of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and the Canadian Alliance, made no official statement about the new party. During the 2006 election, Orchard endorsed and later joined the Liberal Party.
The party adopted the last policy platform of the Progressive Conservative party, but has begun to create new policies for Canada to meet new situations and challenges. These platforms include, support of the Canadian Wheat Board, support for small business, belief in a single tier health-care system, the promise of eliminating student debt, and a foreign policy that emphasizes Canada's dual role of peace-keepers and diplomats. The new party's official logo and initials are an homage to the Progressive Conservative Party, from where the party claims to draw its history, policy, and constitution.

Seven Pillars for Prosperity

According to the party's website, the Progressive Canadian Party has "seven pillars for bringing prosperity to Canada". These seven pillars are:
  1. "Facilitating post-secondary education"
  2. "Realizing growth opportunities"
  3. "Harnessing renewable resources"
  4. "Meeting differing needs"
  5. "Serving the world"
  6. "Allying for peace and stability"
  7. "Bringing new hope"

    Election results

By-Electioncandidate# of votes% of popular voteplaceWinner
London North CentreSteve Hunter1460.38%5/7Glen Pearson
VaughanDorian Baxter1100.28%7/8Julian Fantino
Toronto-DanforthDorian Baxter2080.64%5/11Craig Scott
Toronto CentreDorian Baxter4531.30%5/11Chrystia Freeland
Markham-ThornhillDorian Baxter5662.90%4/7Mary Ng
South Surrey—White RockMichael Huenefeld860.28%7/7Gordie Hogg
York-SimcoeDorian Baxter6343.80%4/9Scot Davidson
Nanaimo—LadysmithBrian Marlett2480.61%6/7Paul Manly

PC Party leaders

NameTerm startTerm endNotes
Ernie Schreiber20042005First leader
Tracy Parsons20052007
Sinclair Stevens20072016Interim leader
Joe Hueglin2016presentInterim leader