| [pending revision] | [accepted revision] |
Content deleted Content added
Rescuing 13 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5 |
|||
Line 1:
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Federal political party}}
{{For|the historical
{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Conservative Party of Canada
| native_name = {{lang|fr|Parti conservateur du Canada}}
| abbreviation = CPC<br />{{lang|fr|PCC}}
| logo
| logo_size
| colorcode = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}
| leader = [[Pierre Poilievre]]
| president = Stephen Barber
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2003|12|7}}
| leader1_title = Deputy leaders
| leader1_name = {{ubl | [[Melissa Lantsman]] | [[Tim Uppal]]}}
| leader2_title = Senate leader
| leader2_name = [[Don Plett]]
| leader3_title = House leader
| leader3_name = [[Andrew Scheer]]
| founders = {{ubl | [[Stephen Harper]]{{efn|As leader of the Canadian Conservative Reform Alliance, and co-signatory to the CA–PC merger agreement to form the Conservative Party of Canada.}} | [[Peter MacKay]]{{efn|As leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, and co-signatory to the CA–PC merger agreement to form the Conservative Party of Canada.}}}}
| ideology = [[Conservatism]] ([[Conservatism in Canada|Canadian]])<br />[[Economic liberalism]]
| headquarters = 1800–66 Slater Street<br />[[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]]<br />K1P 5H1
| membership = {{increase}} 678,708<ref>{{cite web |last1=Van Dyk |first1=Spencer |title=Conservative party says nearly 679,000 members eligible to vote for new leader |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/conservative-party-says-nearly-679-000-members-eligible-to-vote-for-new-leader-1.6007791 |website=CTV News |access-date=July 29, 2022 |date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729194102/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/conservative-party-says-nearly-679-000-members-eligible-to-vote-for-new-leader-1.6007791 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| membership_year = 2022
| merger = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]]<br />[[Canadian Alliance]]
| position = [[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]] to [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]]
| regional = [[Asia Pacific Democracy Union]]
| continental = [[Union of Latin American Parties]] (associate party)
| international = [[International Democracy Union]]
| colours = {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}|border=darkgray}} [[Political colour#Blue|Blue]]
| seats1_title = [[Senate of Canada|Senate]]
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|12|105|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}}}
| seats2_title = [[House of Commons of Canada|House of <br />Commons]]
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|142|343|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}}}
| website = {{official URL}}
| country = Canada
}}
The '''Conservative Party of Canada''' ('''CPC'''; {{langx|fr|Parti conservateur du Canada}}, {{lang|fr|PCC}}), sometimes referred to as the '''Tories''', is a [[Government of Canada|federal]] [[List of political parties in Canada|political party]] in [[Canada]]. It was formed in 2003 by the merger of the two main [[Right-wing politics|right-leaning]] parties, the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] (PC Party) and the [[Canadian Alliance]], the latter being the successor of the [[Western Canada|Western Canadian]]–based [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform Party]]. The party sits at the [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] to the [[Right-wing politics|right]] of the [[Politics of Canada|Canadian political spectrum]], with their federal rival, the [[Centrism|centre]] to [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]] [[Liberal Party of Canada]], positioned to their [[left-wing politics|left]].<ref name="Canadian Encyclopedia">{{Cite web|url=https://thecanadaguide.com/government/political-parties/|title=Political Parties|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223170618/https://thecanadaguide.com/government/political-parties/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Conservatives are defined as a "[[big tent]]" party, practicing "brokerage politics"{{efn| name=politics|'''Brokerage politics:''' "A Canadian term for successful [[Big tent|big tent parties]] that embody a [[Pluralism (political philosophy)|pluralistic]] catch-all approach to appeal to the median Canadian voter ... adopting centrist policies and [[Electoral alliance|electoral coalitions]] to satisfy the short-term preferences of a majority of electors who are not located on the ideological fringe."<ref name="MarlandGiasson2012">{{cite book|author1=Alex Marland|author2=Thierry Giasson|author3=Jennifer Lees-Marshment|title=Political Marketing in Canada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GSeSaYPa2A4C&pg=PA257|year=2012|publisher=UBC Press|isbn=978-0-7748-2231-2|page=257|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331010034/https://books.google.com/books?id=GSeSaYPa2A4C&pg=PA257|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CourtneySmith2010">{{cite book|author1=John Courtney|author2=David Smith|title=The Oxford Handbook of Canadian Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5KomEXgxvMcC&pg=PA195|year=2010|publisher=OUP USA|isbn=978-0-19-533535-4|page=195|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331010040/https://books.google.com/books?id=5KomEXgxvMcC&pg=PA195|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<ref name="Brooks2004">{{cite book|author=Stephen Brooks|title=Canadian Democracy: An Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DeQnPIXV5CEC|year=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-541806-4|page=265|quote=Two historically dominant political parties have avoided ideological appeals in favour of a flexible centrist style of politics that is often labelled brokerage politics|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331010051/https://books.google.com/books?id=DeQnPIXV5CEC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Johnson2016c">{{cite book|author=David Johnson|title=Thinking Government: Public Administration and Politics in Canada, Fourth Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I_HzDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA13|year=2016|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-1-4426-3521-0|pages=13–23|quote=...most Canadian governments, especially at the federal level, have taken a moderate, centrist approach to decision making, seeking to balance growth, stability, and governmental efficiency and economy...|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331010046/https://books.google.com/books?id=I_HzDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA13|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Smith2014">{{cite book|author=Miriam Smith|title=Group Politics and Social Movements in Canada: Second Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iG4rAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA17|year=2014|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-1-4426-0695-1|page=17|quote=Canada's party system has long been described as a “brokerage system” in which the leading parties (Liberal and Conservative) follow strategies that appeal across major [[Cleavage (politics)|social cleavages]] in an effort to defuse potential tensions.|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331010047/https://books.google.com/books?id=iG4rAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA17|url-status=live}}</ref> and welcoming a broad variety of members, including "[[Red Tory|Red Tories]]" and "[[Blue Tory|Blue Tories]]".<ref name="Wolak2014">{{cite book|author=Arthur J. Wolak|title=The Development of Managerial Culture: A Comparative Study of Australia and Canada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-MepBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA199|year=2014|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK|isbn=978-1-137-47562-6|pages=199–201|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501130244/https://books.google.com/books?id=-MepBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA199|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BellKulchyski2013">{{cite book|author1=Shannon Bell|author2=Peter Keith Kulchyski|title=Subversive Itinerary: The Thought of Gad Horowitz|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z1te9rTz6jEC&pg=PA18|year=2013|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-1-4426-4532-5|pages=18–22|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501130244/https://books.google.com/books?id=Z1te9rTz6jEC&pg=PA18|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GagnonTanguay2017">{{cite book|author1=Alain-G Gagnon|author2=A. Brian Tanguay|title=Canadian Parties in Transition, Fourth Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JwSDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA122|year=2017|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-1-4426-3470-1|pages=122–125|access-date=November 5, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331005625/https://books.google.com/books?id=_JwSDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA122|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LewisEveritt2017">{{cite book|author1=J. P. Lewis|author2=Joanna Everitt|title=The Blueprint: Conservative Parties and their Impact on Canadian Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_LE0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA11|date=August 28, 2017|publisher=University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division|isbn=978-1-4875-1403-7|pages=11–|access-date=November 5, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331005509/https://books.google.com/books?id=_LE0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA11|url-status=live}}</ref>
From [[Canadian Confederation]] in 1867 until 1942, the [[Conservative Party of Canada (historical)|original Conservative Party of Canada]] formed numerous governments and had multiple names. However, by 1942, the main right-wing Canadian force became known as the Progressive Conservative Party. In the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 federal election]], the PC Party's Western Canadian support transferred to the Reform Party. When it became clear that neither the PC Party nor the Reform Party or Canadian Alliance (the latter being the successor to the Reform Party) could beat the incumbent Liberals that had governed since the 1993 election, an effort to [[Unite the Right (Canada)|unite the right-of-centre parties]] emerged. In 2003, the Canadian Alliance and the PCs merged, forming the Conservative Party of Canada.
During the Conservative Party's governance of Canada from 2006 to 2015, its economic policies included reducing [[Goods and services tax (Canada)|sales tax]], reducing [[Income tax in Canada|income taxes]], reducing business taxes, [[Balanced budget|balancing the national budget]], creating the [[tax-free savings account]] (TFSA), and creating the [[Canada Child Benefit|Universal Child Care Benefit]]. In social policy, the government eliminated the [[Canadian Firearms Registry|long-gun registry]], introduced [[Mandatory sentencing|mandatory minimum sentences]] for violent crimes, raised the [[age of consent]] to 16 years of age, permitted the construction of [[Pipelines in Canada|several pipelines]], and [[Canada and the Kyoto Protocol|withdrew Canada from the Kyoto Protocol]]. The government also supported the [[Israel|State of Israel]], negotiated the [[Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement]] (CETA), and negotiated the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]] (TPP).<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Ways Harper Left His Mark On Canada |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/26/stephen-harper-legacy-mp-resigns_n_11725842.html |website=HuffPost Canada |language=en |date=August 26, 2016 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427012220/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/26/stephen-harper-legacy-mp-resigns_n_11725842.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Harper Legacy |url=https://angusreid.org/the-harper-legacy/ |website=Angus Reid Institute |date=October 30, 2015 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427012154/https://angusreid.org/the-harper-legacy/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dippel |first1=Scott |title=As Stephen Harper leaves politics, record shows mixed results for Calgary |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/harper-resigns-mp-calgary-analysis-1.3734081 |access-date=May 23, 2021 |publisher=CBC |archive-date=July 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706203417/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/harper-resigns-mp-calgary-analysis-1.3734081 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Payton |first1=Laura |title=Harper appoints 7 new senators |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-appoints-7-new-senators-1.1140276 |publisher=CBC |access-date=May 23, 2021 |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417044919/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-appoints-7-new-senators-1.1140276 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Under its first leader, [[Stephen Harper]], the party governed with two [[minority government]]s after the federal elections of [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006]] and [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008]]. It then won a [[majority government]] in the [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 federal election]] before being defeated in the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]] by a majority Liberal government led by [[Justin Trudeau]]. Despite winning a plurality of the vote in each election, the party remained in opposition after losing the [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]] and [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021]] elections under its second and third leaders, [[Andrew Scheer]] and [[Erin O'Toole]] respectively. [[Pierre Poilievre]] was elected leader in the [[2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2022 leadership election]], leading the party through the [[2025 Canadian federal election|2025 election]], which it again lost to the Liberals, while retaining Official Opposition status.
==History==
{{Main|History of the Conservative Party of Canada}}
===Predecessors===
[[File:John A Macdonald (ca. 1875).jpg|thumb|upright|[[John A. Macdonald]], Prime Minister (1867–1873, 1878–1891), Canada's first Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal-Conservative Party, one of the party's predecessors.|left]]
The Conservative Party is political heir to a series of right-of-centre parties that have existed in Canada, beginning with the [[Upper Canada Tories]] of the nineteenth century. [[John A. Macdonald]] and [[George-Étienne Cartier]] later founded the [[Liberal-Conservative Party]]. The party became known simply as the [[Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)|Conservative Party]] after 1873, and the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] after 1942. Like its historical predecessors and conservative parties in some other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth nations]] (such as the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party of the United Kingdom]]), members of the present-day Conservative Party of Canada are sometimes referred to as "Tories".<ref name="Tories-roots">{{cite web |last1=Tattrie |first1=Jon |title=Canada election 2015: Linguistic roots of Tories, Liberals and NDP |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/canada-election-language-roots-1.3271089 |series=Word for Word |website=[[CBC News]] |access-date=April 29, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209204726/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/canada-election-language-roots-1.3271089 |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |language=en |date=October 19, 2015 |quote=Some people sneeringly called a supporter of the Catholic Duke of York a {{lang|ga|toruighe}} [{{gloss|outlaw}}]. But then the duke became Britain's [[King James II]] and everybody wanted to be a {{lang|ga|toruighe}}. A new political party sought to ride his coattails by calling themselves the Tory party. The [[British Conservative Party]] formed in 1830, and it kept the old Tory as a nickname. Canada's Tories borrow both names. |url-status=live}}</ref> The modern Conservative Party of Canada is also legal heir to the heritage of the historical conservative parties by virtue of assuming the assets and liabilities of the former [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] upon the merger of 2003.
In 1984, the Progressive Conservative Party's electoral fortunes made a massive upturn under its new leader, [[Brian Mulroney]], who mustered a large coalition of westerners irritated over the Liberal government's [[National Energy Program]], suburban and small-town Ontarians, and [[Quebec nationalists]] who were angered over Quebec not having distinct status in the [[Constitution of Canada]] signed in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 9, 2008|title=Wooing nationalists is a risky courtship|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=7ae0209d-dfbf-4725-ad70-7175308efc93|url-status=dead|access-date=February 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307233007/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=7ae0209d-dfbf-4725-ad70-7175308efc93|archive-date=March 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gunter|first=Lorne|date=October 19, 2011|title=Shipbuilding contract is an iceberg waiting to be hit|newspaper=The National Post|url=http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/10/19/ship-building-contract-is-an-iceberg-waiting-to-be-hit/|url-status=dead|access-date=February 11, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411104002/http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/10/19/ship-building-contract-is-an-iceberg-waiting-to-be-hit/|archive-date=April 11, 2013}}</ref> This led to a huge landslide victory for the Progressive Conservative Party.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, federal conservative politics became split by the creation of a new western-based protest party, the populist and social conservative [[Reform Party of Canada]] created by [[Preston Manning]], the son of an [[Alberta Social Credit Party|Alberta Social Credit]] premier, [[Ernest Manning]]. Westerners reportedly felt betrayed by the federal Progressive Conservative Party, seeing it as catering to Quebec and urban Ontario interests over theirs. In 1989, Reform made headlines in the political scene when its first [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|member of Parliament]] (MP), [[Deborah Grey]], was elected in a [[by-election]] in Alberta, which was a shock to the PCs, who had almost complete electoral dominance over the province for years. Another defining event for western conservatives was when Mulroney accepted the results of an unofficial Senate election held in Alberta, which resulted in the appointment of a Reformer, [[Stanley Waters]], to the Senate. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}
In the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 election]], support for the Progressive Conservative Party collapsed, and the party's representation in the House of Commons dropped from an absolute majority of seats to only two. Meanwhile, the Reform Party took [[Western Canada]] and became the dominant conservative party in Canada. The PC Party rebounded slightly with 20 seats in [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997]] and 12 in [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000]], but was unable to challenge Reform in Western Canada; meanwhile, Reform dominated the western provinces but struggled to win seats east of Manitoba. Their electoral problems were accentuated by Canada's [[single member plurality]] electoral system, which resulted in numerous seats being won by the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]], even when the total number of votes cast for PC and Reform Party candidates was substantially in excess of the total number of votes cast for the Liberal candidate. This led to [[Unite the Right (Canada)|calls for the two parties to merge]].
===Foundation and early history===
On October 15, 2003, after months of talks between the [[Canadian Alliance]] (formerly the Reform Party) and Progressive Conservative Party, [[Stephen Harper]] (then the leader of the Canadian Alliance) and [[Peter MacKay]] (then the leader of the Progressive Conservatives) announced the "'Conservative Party Agreement-in-Principle", that would merge their parties to create the new Conservative Party of Canada. After the agreement-in-principle was ratified by the membership of both parties, the new party was officially registered with [[Elections Canada]] on December 7. Senator [[John Lynch-Staunton]], a PC, was named interim leader, pending the outcome of the party's inaugural leadership election.
The merger was opposed by some elements in both parties. In the PCs in particular, the merger process resulted in organized opposition, and in a substantial number of prominent members refusing to join the new party. Former leadership candidate [[David Orchard]] argued that his written agreement with MacKay, which had been signed a few months earlier at the [[2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election|2003 Progressive Conservative Leadership convention]], excluded any such merger. Orchard announced his opposition to the merger before negotiations with the Canadian Alliance had been completed. Over the course of the following year, Orchard led an unsuccessful legal challenge to the merger of the two parties.
In October and November, during the course of the PC party's process of ratifying the merger, three sitting Progressive Conservative MPs — [[André Bachand (Progressive Conservative MP)|André Bachand]], [[John Herron (New Brunswick politician)|John Herron]] and former prime minister [[Joe Clark]] — announced they would not join the new Conservative Party caucus. In the months following the merger, [[Rick Borotsik]], who had been elected as Manitoba's only PC, became openly critical of the new party's leadership, while former leadership candidate [[Scott Brison]] and former Alliance leadership candidate [[Keith Martin (politician)|Keith Martin]] left the party. Brison, Herron and Martin ran for the Liberal Party in the next election, while Clark, Bachand and Borotsik retired. Three senators — [[C. William Doody|William Doody]], [[Norman K. Atkins|Norman Atkins]], and [[Lowell Murray]] — declined to join the new party and continued to sit in the upper house as a [[rump party|rump]] caucus of Progressive Conservatives, and a fourth ([[Jean-Claude Rivest]]) soon left to sit as an independent. In February 2005, Prime Minister [[Paul Martin]] appointed two anti-merger Progressive Conservatives, [[Nancy Ruth]] and [[Elaine McCoy]], to the Senate. In March 2006, Nancy Ruth joined the new Conservative Party.
====Inaugural leadership election====
{{main|2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election}}
In the immediate aftermath of the merger announcement, some Conservative activists hoped to recruit former Ontario premier [[Mike Harris]] for the leadership. Harris declined the invitation, as did [[New Brunswick]] premier [[Bernard Lord]] and [[Alberta]] premier [[Ralph Klein]]. Outgoing Progressive Conservative leader [[Peter MacKay]] also announced he would not seek the leadership, as did former [[Democratic Representative Caucus]] leader [[Chuck Strahl]]. [[Jim Prentice]], who had been a candidate in the [[2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election|2003 PC leadership contest]], entered the Conservative leadership race in mid-December but dropped out in mid-January because of an inability to raise funds so soon after his earlier leadership bid.
In the end, there were three candidates in the party's [[2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|first leadership election]]: former [[Canadian Alliance]] leader [[Stephen Harper]], former [[Magna International]] CEO [[Belinda Stronach]], and former [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Ontario provincial PC]] Cabinet minister [[Tony Clement]]. Voting took place on March 20, 2004. A total of 97,397 ballots were cast.<ref>Tom Flanagan, ''Harper's Team''. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2007, pg. 131</ref> Harper won on the first ballot with 56.2% of the vote; Stronach received 34.5%, and Clement received 9.4%.<ref>Tom Flanagan, ''Harper's Team''. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2007, pg. 133</ref>
===Stephen Harper (2004–2015)===
==== In opposition (2004–2006) ====
Two months after Harper's election as leader, Prime Minister Paul Martin called a [[2004 Canadian federal election|general election for June 28, 2004]].
For the first time since the 1993 election, a Liberal government would have to deal with an opposition party that was generally seen as being able to form government. The Liberals attempted to counter this with an early election call, as this would give the Conservatives less time to consolidate their merger. During the first half of the campaign, polls showed a rise in support for the new party, leading some pollsters to predict the election of a [[minority government|minority]] Conservative government. Momentum stalled after several Conservative candidates made controversial remarks about [[homosexuality]], [[Bilingualism in Canada|official bilingualism]] and [[abortion]], allowing the Liberal Party to warn of a "hidden agenda". Ultimately, Harper's new Conservatives emerged from the election with a much larger parliamentary [[caucus]] of 99 MPs while the Liberals were reduced to a minority government of 135 MPs, twenty short of a majority.
In 2005, some political analysts such as former Progressive Conservative pollster [[Allan Gregg]] and ''[[Toronto Star]]'' columnist [[Chantal Hébert]] suggested that the then-subsequent election could result in a Conservative government if the public were to perceive the Tories as emerging from the party's founding convention (then scheduled for March 2005 in Montreal) with clearly defined, moderate policies with which to challenge the Liberals. The convention provided the public with an opportunity to see the Conservative Party in a new light, appearing to have reduced the focus on its controversial social conservative agenda. It retained its fiscal conservative appeal by espousing tax cuts, smaller government, and more decentralization by giving the provinces more taxing powers and decision-making authority in joint federal-provincial programs. The party's law and order package was an effort to address rising homicide rates, which had gone up 12% in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 21, 2005|title=Statistics Canada re spike in homicides|url=http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050721/d050721a.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831051213/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050721/d050721a.htm|archive-date=August 31, 2008|access-date=May 5, 2011|publisher=Statcan.ca}}</ref>
On November 24, 2005, Harper introduced a [[motion of no confidence]] which, with the backing of the other two opposition parties, passed on November 28, 2005. This resulted in an [[2006 Canadian federal election|election scheduled for January 23, 2006]]. The Conservatives started off the first month of the campaign by making a series of policy-per-day announcements, which included a [[Goods and Services Tax (Canada)|Goods and Services Tax]] reduction and a child-care allowance. These announcements played to Harper's strengths as a policy wonk,<ref name="archive1">{{cite web|title=andrewcoyne.com|url=http://andrewcoyne.com/Essays/Newspapers/Campaign_strategies.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116022016/http://andrewcoyne.com/Essays/Newspapers/Campaign_strategies.html|archive-date=November 16, 2006|access-date=April 28, 2010}}</ref> as opposed to the 2004 election and summer 2005 where he tried to overcome the perception that he was cool and aloof. Though his party showed only modest movement in the polls, Harper's personal approval numbers, which had always trailed his party's significantly, began to rise. In addition, the party also received more [[Newspaper endorsements in the Canadian federal election, 2006|newspaper endorsements]] than in 2004.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}
On January 23, 2006, the Conservatives won 124 seats, compared to 103 for the Liberals. The results made the Conservatives the largest party in the 308-member House of Commons, enabling them to form a [[Minority governments in Canada|minority government]].
==== In government (2006–2015) ====
{{Main|Premiership of Stephen Harper|Domestic policy of the Stephen Harper government|Environmental policy of the Stephen Harper government|Foreign policy of the Stephen Harper government}}
[[File:Stephen Harper by Remy Steinegger Infobox.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Stephen Harper]], Prime Minister (2006–2015)]]On February 6, 2006, Harper and [[28th Canadian Ministry|his Cabinet]] were sworn in. The Conservative Party confronted the [[In and Out scandal]], regarding improper election spending during the 2006 election. The government's [[2006 Canadian federal budget|first budget]] produced a nearly $14 billion surplus, a number slightly greater than the Martin government. The budget also drastically increased military spending and scrapped funding for the [[Kyoto Protocol]] and the [[Kelowna Accord]]. Later, the government introduced the [[tax-free savings account]] (TFSA). The government passed the [[Veterans' Bill of Rights]], which guaranteed benefits for veterans from [[Veterans Affairs Canada]], in addition to guaranteeing equality of veterans and referring to them as "special citizens". The government also passed the [[Québécois nation motion]] which would "recognize the [[Québécois people|Québécois]] as a [[nation]] within a united Canada",<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2006 |title=House passes motion recognizing Quebecois as nation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/house-passes-motion-recognizing-quebecois-as-nation-1.574359 |access-date=December 19, 2024 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> and introduced a motion to reverse the [[Same-sex marriage in Canada|same-sex marriage]] law implemented by the Martin government, which was defeated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2006 |title=MPs defeat bid to reopen same-sex marriage debate |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mps-defeat-bid-to-reopen-same-sex-marriage-debate-1.599856 |access-date=December 19, 2024 |website=[[CBC News]] |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406045128/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mps-defeat-bid-to-reopen-same-sex-marriage-debate-1.599856 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Deadlock between the Conservatives and the Liberals, the [[New Democratic Party]], and the [[Bloc Québécois]] led to the calling of the [[2008 Canadian federal election|October 2008 federal election]], in which the Conservatives won a stronger minority. Shortly after, the Conservatives fought off a [[vote of non-confidence]] by [[2008–2009 Canadian parliamentary dispute|a potential governing coalition of opposition parties]] by [[Prorogation in Canada|proroguing parliament]]. In his second term, Harper's government responded to the [[2008 financial crisis]] and the [[Great Recession]] by introducing the [[2009 Canadian federal budget]] that implemented major personal income tax cuts. However, these tax cuts, along with increases in spending to mitigate the [[2008 financial crisis]], grew [[deficit spending]] to $55.6 billion – Canada's largest federal deficit up to that time.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Deficit a record $50B as economy weakens |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/05/27/deficit_a_record_50b_as_economy_weakens.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=February 5, 2022 |date=May 27, 2009 |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205204412/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/05/27/deficit_a_record_50b_as_economy_weakens.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
A March 2011 non-confidence vote that found the Harper government to be in [[contempt of Parliament]] dissolved [[40th Canadian Parliament|Parliament]] and triggered [[2011 Canadian federal election|an election]]. In this election, the Conservatives won a [[majority government]]. The Harper government withdrew Canada from the [[Kyoto Protocol]] and repealed the [[Canadian Firearms Registry|long-gun registry]]. In foreign policy, the government passed the ''[[Anti-terrorism Act, 2015|Anti-terrorism Act]]'', launched [[Operation Impact]] to combat [[ISIL]], negotiated the [[Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement]] (CETA) with the [[European Union]], and negotiated the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]] (TPP). The Conservatives also gained controversy surrounding the [[Canadian Senate expenses scandal]] and the [[2011 Canadian federal election voter suppression scandal|Robocall scandal]]; the latter involved [[robocall]]s and real-person calls that were designed to result in [[voter suppression]] in the 2011 election. In economic policy, the government launched [[Canada's Global Markets Action Plan]] to generate employment opportunities for Canadians by expanding Canadian businesses and investment in other countries, and [[balanced budget|balanced the budget]] in the [[2014 Canadian federal budget|2014 federal budget]], producing a minor deficit of $550 million.
In the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]], after nearly a decade in power, the Conservatives were defeated by [[Justin Trudeau]] and his Liberal Party. Harper stepped down as leader on the election day on October 19. Journalist [[John Ibbitson]] of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' described Harper as "the most conservative leader Canada has ever known."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ibbitson |first1=John |title=How Harper created a more conservative Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/globe-politics-insider/how-harper-created-a-more-conservative-canada/article22829480/ |website=Globe and Mail |access-date=February 5, 2022 |date=February 6, 2015 |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205203331/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/globe-politics-insider/how-harper-created-a-more-conservative-canada/article22829480/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===In opposition (2015–present)===
====First interim leadership (2015–2017)====
Following the election of the Liberals and Harper's resignation as party leader in the 2015 election, it was announced that an [[Interim leader (Canada)|interim leader]] would be selected to serve until a new leader could be chosen.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 22, 2015|title=Diane Finley Plans To Run For Interim Conservative Leadership|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/22/diane-finley-puts-name-forward-to-run-for-interim-conservative-leader_n_8358276.html|access-date=October 13, 2016|work=HuffPost|archive-date=November 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120054717/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/22/diane-finley-puts-name-forward-to-run-for-interim-conservative-leader_n_8358276.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That was completed at the caucus meeting of November 5, 2015<ref>{{cite news|title=Conservatives choose Alberta MP Rona Ambrose as interim leader|work=cbc.ca|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-interim-leader-vote-1.3306152|access-date=October 13, 2016|archive-date=July 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721035412/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-interim-leader-vote-1.3306152|url-status=live}}</ref> where [[Rona Ambrose]], MP for [[Sturgeon River—Parkland]] and a former cabinet minister, was elected by a vote of MPs and Senators.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rona Ambrose elected interim Conservative leader|url=http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/11/05/rona-ambrose-elected-interim-conservative-leader/|access-date=December 21, 2016|work=RCI|date=November 5, 2015|archive-date=June 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609143523/http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/11/05/rona-ambrose-elected-interim-conservative-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Some members of the party's national council were calling for a leadership convention as early as May 2016 according to ''[[Maclean's]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|author=Paul Wells|title=Conservative caucus unrest mounts|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/conservative-caucus-unrest-mounts/|access-date=November 5, 2015|work=Macleans.ca|date=October 23, 2015 |archive-date=November 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105191213/http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/conservative-caucus-unrest-mounts/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, some other MPs wanted the vote to be delayed until the spring of 2017.<ref>{{cite web|author=[[The Hill Times]]|date=October 29, 2015|title=Conservative MPs calling on party to hold leadership convention in spring 2017|url=http://www.hilltimes.com/2015/10/28/conservative-mps-calling-on-party-to-hold-leadership-convention-in-spring-2017/43948|access-date=November 5, 2015|work=hilltimes.com|archive-date=October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031154103/http://www.hilltimes.com/2015/10/28/conservative-mps-calling-on-party-to-hold-leadership-convention-in-spring-2017/43948|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 19, 2016, the party announced that a permanent leader will be chosen on May 27, 2017.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/01/19/next-conservative-party-leader-will-be-chosen-may-27-2017-party-says-2/#.Vp6stPkrIgt|title=Next Conservative party leader will be chosen May 27, 2017, party says|website=National Newswatch|publisher=National Newswatch Inc.|date=January 19, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2016|archive-date=January 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128112809/http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/01/19/next-conservative-party-leader-will-be-chosen-may-27-2017-party-says-2/#.Vp6stPkrIgt|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Andrew Scheer (2017–2020) ====
[[File:Andrew Scheer portrait style.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Andrew Scheer, leader (2017–2020)]]
On September 28, 2016, former [[Speaker of the House of Commons (Canada)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] [[Andrew Scheer]] announced his bid for the [[2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|leadership of the party]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Fekete|first=Jason|date=September 28, 2016|title=Andrew Scheer announces support of 20 members of Conservative caucus as he makes leadership bid official|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/andrew-scheer-announces-support-of-20-members-of-conservative-caucus-as-he-makes-leadership-bid-official|access-date=September 28, 2016|work=National Post}}</ref> On May 27, 2017, Scheer was elected as the second permanent leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, beating runner-up MP [[Maxime Bernier]] and more than 12 others with 50.95% of the vote through 13 rounds.<ref name="cbcleadwinner">{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Kathleen|date=May 27, 2017|title=Andrew Scheer elected new Conservative leader|publisher=[[CBC News]]|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-race-winner-1.4134575|access-date=May 27, 2017|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430205909/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-race-winner-1.4134575|url-status=live}}</ref> Bernier would leave the Conservatives in 2018 to form the [[People's Party of Canada]], which campaigned on [[right-wing populism|right-wing populist]] positions in subsequent elections but failed to win a seat.
Under Scheer, the Conservatives prioritized repealing the Liberal government's [[Carbon pricing in Canada|carbon tax]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Emmanuel |first1=Rachel |title=Conservative pitch carbon tax scrap as first act of government |url=https://ipolitics.ca/2019/10/17/conservative-pitch-carbon-tax-scrap-as-first-act-of-government/ |website=iPolitics |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=October 17, 2019 |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206100818/https://ipolitics.ca/2019/10/17/conservative-pitch-carbon-tax-scrap-as-first-act-of-government/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Pipelines in Canada|pipeline]] construction,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Alanna |title=Conservative leader Andrew Scheer shares pipeline vision in Calgary |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/conservative-leader-andrew-scheer-shares-pipeline-vision-in-calgary |website=Calgary Herald |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=May 25, 2019 |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206213004/https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/conservative-leader-andrew-scheer-shares-pipeline-vision-in-calgary |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[balanced budget|balancing the budget]] within five years had they formed government in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smart |first1=Amy |title=Scheer says it would take Conservatives five years to balance budget |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/scheer-says-it-would-take-conservatives-five-years-to-balance-budget-1.4436472 |website=CTV News |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=May 24, 2019 |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206100813/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/scheer-says-it-would-take-conservatives-five-years-to-balance-budget-1.4436472 |url-status=live }}</ref> Scheer is a social conservative; he is personally [[pro-life]] and opposes same-sex marriage, though like Harper, he stated he would not attempt to overturn the legality of both laws.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levitz |first1=Stephanie |title=Possible to hold socially conservative views and be prime minister: Scheer |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-socially-conservative-1.5334891 |website=CBC News |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=October 25, 2019 |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206213005/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-socially-conservative-1.5334891 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Conservative Party entered the [[2019 Canadian federal election|October 2019 federal election]] campaign neck-in-neck with the Liberals after the [[SNC-Lavalin affair]] earlier that year involving Justin Trudeau, but the election resulted in a Liberal minority government victory. The Conservatives did, however, win the largest share of the popular vote, and gained 26 seats. Notably, they won every single seat in [[Saskatchewan]] and all but [[Edmonton Strathcona (federal electoral district)|one]] in [[Alberta]]. While the Conservative Party has historically been highly successful in Alberta and Saskatchewan, some point to a growing sense of [[Western alienation]] to explain the results. Following the election, Scheer faced criticism from within the party for failing to defeat Trudeau, who gained criticism for his handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair and for his wearing of [[brownface]] and [[blackface]]; the latter incident was made public during the election campaign. Scheer announced his pending resignation on December 12, 2019, after the [[CBC News|CBC]] reported that the Conservative party had been paying part of his children's private school tuition.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Andrew Scheer: Canadian Conservative leader resigns |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50762474 |website=BBC News |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=June 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624103218/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50762474 |url-status=live }}</ref> He remained party leader, until his successor was chosen in August 2020.
==== Erin O'Toole (2020–2022) ====
[[File:Conservative Party of Canada logo (2020).png|thumb|Logo of the CPC from 2020 to 2023]]
[[File:ErinO'Toole.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Erin O'Toole, leader (2020–2022)]]
[[2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|A leadership election]] to replace Scheer was held in 2020, which was won by former [[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|Veterans Affairs Minister]] [[Erin O'Toole]] on August 24, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Erin O'Toole wins Conservative leadership race on the third ballot|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/erin-otoole-wins-conservative-leadership-race-on-the-third-ballot|access-date=August 24, 2020|website=National Post|date=August 24, 2020|language=en-CA|last1=Platt|first1=Brian|archive-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815154545/https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/erin-otoole-wins-conservative-leadership-race-on-the-third-ballot|url-status=live}}</ref>
Though running for the leadership on a "true blue" platform,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ballingall |first1=Alex |title=What kind of prime minister would Erin O'Toole be? His 'true-blue' platform spells it out |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2020/08/24/what-kind-of-prime-minister-would-erin-otoole-be-his-true-blue-platform-spells-it-out.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=August 24, 2020 |archive-date=August 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827174139/https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2020/08/24/what-kind-of-prime-minister-would-erin-otoole-be-his-true-blue-platform-spells-it-out.html |url-status=live }}</ref> O'Toole started to nudge the Conservative Party to the [[centrism|political centre]] as leader.<ref name="americamagazine.org">{{cite web |last1=Gillies |first1=Rob |title=In Canada, a pro-abortion, pro-LGBT Conservative is seeking to unseat Justin Trudeau |url=https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/09/17/trudeau-otoole-canada-politics-conservative-241460 |website=America Magazine |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=September 17, 2021 |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206213006/https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/09/17/trudeau-otoole-canada-politics-conservative-241460 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite campaigning against the Liberal government's carbon tax during his leadership campaign, O'Toole reversed his position in April 2021, instead advocating for a low carbon savings account.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cochrane |first1=David |last2=Shivji |first2=Salimah |last3=Wherry |first3=Aaron |title=Conservatives announce plan to replace Liberal carbon tax with a lower levy of their own |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carbon-tax-conservatives-1.5988407 |website=CBC News |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=April 15, 2021 |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926211507/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carbon-tax-conservatives-1.5988407 |url-status=live }}</ref> In contrast to his two predecessors as leader, O'Toole is [[pro-choice]] and supports same-sex marriage.<ref name="americamagazine.org"/>
Prime Minister Trudeau called the [[2021 Canadian federal election|September 2021 federal election]] in the hopes of winning a majority government, though in the middle of the campaign O'Toole's Conservatives were tied with the Liberals, if not slightly ahead of the Liberals in [[Opinion polling for the 2021 Canadian federal election|the polls]]. During the campaign, O'Toole stated he would balance the budget within the next 10 years<ref>{{cite web |last1=Curry |first1=Bill |last2=Dickson |first2=Janice |title=Conservative government would aim to erase deficit in a decade, Erin O'Toole says |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-conservative-government-would-aim-to-erase-deficit-in-a-decade-erin-o/ |website=Globe and Mail |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=September 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021214211/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-conservative-government-would-aim-to-erase-deficit-in-a-decade-erin-o/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and reversed his support for repealing the Liberal government's [[Firearms regulation in Canada|"assault-style" weapons ban]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Major |first1=Darren |title=O'Toole reverses course on guns, will maintain Liberal ban during review of classifications |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gun-control-wedge-issue-1.6165532 |website=CBC News |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=September 5, 2021 |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206213008/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gun-control-wedge-issue-1.6165532 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a similar manner to the 2019 election, the Conservatives again won the popular vote but fell short of gaining the largest amount of seats, enabling the Liberal Party under [[Justin Trudeau]] to form another minority government.
As a result, party members were undecided on whether he should continue as leader.<ref>{{cite news|last1= Stone|first1= Laura|last2= Bailey|first2= Ian|date= September 22, 2021|title= Erin O'Toole accused of 'betraying' Conservatives as he faces first leadership challenge|url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-erin-otoole-accused-of-betraying-conservatives-as-he-faces-first/|work= [[The Globe and Mail]]|accessdate= September 2, 2021|archive-date= September 23, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210923030250/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-erin-otoole-accused-of-betraying-conservatives-as-he-faces-first/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1= Stone|first1= Laura|last2= Bailey|first2= Ian|date= September 23, 2021|title= Former Ontario premier Mike Harris, MPs urge Conservatives to unify around Erin O'Toole after election loss|url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-former-premier-mike-harris-mps-urge-conservatives-to-unify-around-erin/|work= [[The Globe and Mail]]|accessdate= September 2, 2021|archive-date= September 24, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210924043539/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-former-premier-mike-harris-mps-urge-conservatives-to-unify-around-erin/|url-status= live}}</ref> On October 5, the Conservative caucus voted to adopt the provisions of the [[Reform Act (Canada)|''Reform Act'']], giving caucus the power to trigger a [[leadership review]]. O'Toole denied that it represented a threat to his leadership, insisting that the caucus was united as a team and that, as a supporter of the Act, he had encouraged his caucus to adopt all of its provisions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Stephanie|date=October 5, 2021|title=O'Toole says Conservative caucus 'fully united' as MPs vote on power to oust him|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8243738/tory-leader-erin-otoole-face-conservative-caucus-first-time-after-election/|access-date=February 6, 2022|website=Global News|language=en-CA|archive-date=February 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206024144/https://globalnews.ca/news/8243738/tory-leader-erin-otoole-face-conservative-caucus-first-time-after-election/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 31, 2022, Conservative [[Calgary Heritage]] MP [[Bob Benzen]] submitted a letter with signatures from 35 Conservative MPs calling for a leadership review on O'Toole's leadership to the Conservative caucus chair, [[Scott Reid (politician)|Scott Reid]]. In the letter, Benzen criticized O'Toole's reversal on repealing the Liberal government's carbon tax and assault weapons ban.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tasker |first1=John |title=Conservative caucus revolt triggers vote on Erin O'Toole's leadership |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/erin-otoole-leadership-review-caucus-1.6334491 |website=CBC News |access-date=February 6, 2022 |date=January 31, 2022 |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204032050/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/erin-otoole-leadership-review-caucus-1.6334491 |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 2, 2022, O'Toole was removed as leader by a margin of 73 to 45 votes.<ref>{{cite news|last= Tasker|first= John Paul|date= February 2, 2022|title= Conservative MPs vote to remove Erin O'Toole as leader|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/otoole-leadership-vote-1.6336336|work= [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|accessdate= February 2, 2022|archive-date= February 2, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220202222528/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/otoole-leadership-vote-1.6336336|url-status= live}}</ref>
====Second interim leadership (2022)====
{{Main|2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election}}
[[File:Pierre Poilievre in 2023..jpg|thumb|upright|right|Pierre Poilievre, leader (2022–present)]]Then-deputy leader of the Conservative Party [[Candice Bergen (politician)|Candice Bergen]] was elected interim leader the same day O'Toole was ousted,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Conservatives elect Candice Bergen as interim party leader - National {{!}} Globalnews.ca|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8590833/conservative-party-interim-leader/|access-date=February 6, 2022|website=Global News|language=en-US|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204235034/https://globalnews.ca/news/8590833/conservative-party-interim-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref> and a [[2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|leadership election]] was subsequently scheduled for September 10, 2022. Conservative MP and former cabinet minister [[Pierre Poilievre]],<ref name="runforpm">{{cite web| url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8598251/pierre-poilievre-prime-minister-campaign/| title=Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre says he is running for prime minister| first=Stephanie| last=Taylor| date=February 5, 2022| website=globalnews.ca| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206013707/https://globalnews.ca/news/8598251/pierre-poilievre-prime-minister-campaign/| archive-date=February 6, 2022}}</ref><ref name="pierre">{{cite tweet| user=PierrePoilievre| number=1490115382157398030| title=I'm running for Prime Minister to give you back control of your life. Sign up now to help me replace Trudeau & restore freedom| date=February 5, 2022| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214115844/https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1490115382157398030| archive-date=February 14, 2022}}</ref> Conservative MP and former leadership candidate [[Leslyn Lewis]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2022 |title=MP Leslyn Lewis launches Conservative leadership bid for second time |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mp-leslyn-lewis-launches-conservative-leadership-bid-for-second-time-1.5810611 |access-date=March 13, 2022 |website=CTVNews |language=en |archive-date=February 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226222828/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mp-leslyn-lewis-launches-conservative-leadership-bid-for-second-time-1.5810611 |url-status=live }}</ref> Independent (formerly Progressive Conservative) Member of Ontario Provincial Parliament [[Roman Baber]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Stephanie |date=March 9, 2022 |title=Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber to enter Conservative leadership race |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/independent-ontario-mpp-roman-baber-to-enter-conservative-leadership-race-1.5811846 |access-date=March 13, 2022 |website=CTVNews |language=en |archive-date=October 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007080950/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/independent-ontario-mpp-roman-baber-to-enter-conservative-leadership-race-1.5811846 |url-status=live }}</ref> former leader of the now-defunct [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] and former [[Premier of Quebec]] [[Jean Charest]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2022 |title=Jean Charest launches Conservative leadership bid in Calgary |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/jean-charest-launches-conservative-leadership-bid-in-calgary-1.5813452 |access-date=March 13, 2022 |website=CTVNews |language=en |archive-date=March 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312231257/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/jean-charest-launches-conservative-leadership-bid-in-calgary-1.5813452 |url-status=live }}</ref> former MP, former leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]], and Mayor of [[Brampton]] [[Patrick Brown (Canadian politician)|Patrick Brown]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2022 |title=Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, Ont., joins race to lead federal Conservatives |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/patrick-brown-mayor-of-brampton-ont-joins-race-to-lead-federal-conservatives-1.5817416 |access-date=March 13, 2022 |website=CTVNews |language=en |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313154021/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/patrick-brown-mayor-of-brampton-ont-joins-race-to-lead-federal-conservatives-1.5817416 |url-status=live }}</ref> former Conservative MP [[Leona Alleslev]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2022 |title='I am not behind': Leona Alleslev officially enters Conservative leadership race |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/i-am-not-behind-leona-alleslev-officially-enters-conservative-leadership-race-1.5851012 |access-date=April 10, 2022 |website=CP24 |language=en |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410074012/https://www.cp24.com/news/i-am-not-behind-leona-alleslev-officially-enters-conservative-leadership-race-1.5851012 |url-status=live }}</ref> former BC MLA and Conservative MP [[Marc Dalton]], and former [[Huntsville, Ontario|Huntsville]] mayor and Conservative MP [[Scott Aitchison]] announced their candidacies for the leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Canadian Press |title=Who's in, who's out and who else may join the Conservative party leadership race |url=https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2022/03/13/whos-in-whos-out-and-who-else-may-join-the-conservative-party-leadership-race-3/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |website=Lethbridge News Now |language=en |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313191127/https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2022/03/13/whos-in-whos-out-and-who-else-may-join-the-conservative-party-leadership-race-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 2, 2022, the Party announced that the six verified candidates for the leadership would be Aitchison, Baber, Brown, Charest, Lewis, Poilievre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2, 2022 |title=Six verified candidates vying to lead the Conservative Party of Canada |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/six-verified-candidates-vying-to-lead-the-conservative-party-of-canada-1.5884731 |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=CTVNews |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502153636/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/six-verified-candidates-vying-to-lead-the-conservative-party-of-canada-1.5884731 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On July 6, 2022, the Party announced that Patrick Brown had been disqualified "due to 'serious allegations of wrongdoing' that 'appear' to violate Canadian election law."<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Christopher |last1=Nardi |first2=Ryan |last2=Tumilty |date=July 6, 2022 |title=Patrick Brown disqualified from Conservative leadership race |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/conservative-leadership-organizers-disqualify-patrick-brown-from-race |access-date=July 12, 2022}}</ref> In response, Brown hired lawyer [[Marie Henein]], who requested the Party's dispute resolution appeal committee be convened.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2022 |title=Federal Conservatives hire outside lawyer to review Patrick Brown's appeal request |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/federal-conservatives-hire-outside-lawyer-to-review-patrick-brown-s-appeal-request-1.5982857 |access-date=July 12, 2022 |website=CTVNews |language=en |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713025949/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/federal-conservatives-hire-outside-lawyer-to-review-patrick-brown-s-appeal-request-1.5982857 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==== Pierre Poilievre (2022–present) ====
On September 10, 2022, [[Pierre Poilievre]] won the leadership on the first ballot in a landslide, winning over 68% of the points.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Tasker |first=John Paul |date=September 10, 2022 |title=Conservative members pick MP Pierre Poilievre to be their new leader |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-election-results-1.6578329 |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=[[CBC News]] |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910220943/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-election-results-1.6578329 |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 12, Poilievre gave his first speech to his caucus as leader.<ref>{{cite news |agency=The Canadian Press |title=New Conservative leader Poilievre drops in on Quebec caucus before meeting with MPs, senators |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/new-conservative-leader-poilievre-drops-in-on-quebec-caucus-before-meeting-with-mps-senators-1.6065139 |website=CTV News |date=September 12, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913164123/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/new-conservative-leader-poilievre-drops-in-on-quebec-caucus-before-meeting-with-mps-senators-1.6065139 |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 28, 2025, the party would lose the [[2025 Canadian federal election]], despite making parliamentary gains through victories in places such as [[Ontario]], such as the province's 905 area and southwestern region, and receiving over 40% of the popular vote for the first time in party history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/takeaways-election-results-1.7521355|title=5 key takeaways from Monday's historic vote|first=Darren|last=Major|work=CBC News|date=April 29, 2025|access-date=April 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/conservatives-make-inroads-in-the-905-but-fail-to-make-waves-in-toronto/|title=Conservatives make inroads in the 905, but fail to make waves in Toronto|first=Phil|last=Tsekouras|work=CTV News|date=April 29, 2025|access-date=April 29, 2025}}</ref> In addition, Poilievre would lose his seat of [[Carleton (Ontario federal electoral district)|Carleton]] to the Liberals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/conservative-party-leader-pierre-poilievre-loses-ottawa-area-seat/|title=Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre loses Ottawa-area seat|first=William|last=Eltherington|work=CTV News|date=April 29, 2025|accessdate=April 29, 2025|archive-date=April 29, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429093712/https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/conservative-party-leader-pierre-poilievre-loses-ottawa-area-seat/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Conservatives also formed the largest Official Opposition in Canadian history. He however [[Unseating|lost his seat]] of Carleton to Liberal candidate [[Bruce Fanjoy]], one of the few times a major party leader in Canada has been defeated in his own riding.<ref name="loss-2025">{{cite news |date=April 29, 2025 |title=Liberal Bruce Fanjoy topples Pierre Poilievre in Carleton |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/canada-federal-election-2025-carleton-pierre-poilievre-results-1.7515695 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429145148/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/canada-federal-election-2025-carleton-pierre-poilievre-results-1.7515695 |archive-date=April 29, 2025 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> There were also calls for Poilievre to resign as conservative leader grew following the election result.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=April 28, 2025 |title=He's Canada's Most Successful Conservative Right Now — And He Is Disappointed in Pierre Poilievre |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/28/doug-ford-ontario-canada-election-00311985 |website=Politico |access-date=May 1, 2025 |archive-date=April 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430013818/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/28/doug-ford-ontario-canada-election-00311985 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Taryn |last=Grant |title=Houston says he's 'focused on Nova Scotia' amid rumours he's seeking Poilievre's job |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/houston-federal-conservative-leadership-rumours-1.7523069 |website=CBC News |access-date=May 1, 2025 |archive-date=May 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501035812/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/houston-federal-conservative-leadership-rumours-1.7523069 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, there was reportedly limited interest from the party's caucus in replacing him immediately after the election given their party's increase in the share of the vote, expansion of its political base in the [[Greater Toronto Area]], and his own popularity with such across the country.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tasker |first=John Paul |date=April 30, 2025 |title=Poilievre is making calls to shore up support as Conservatives take stock of election results |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-future-conservatives-take-stock-1.7522939 |work=[[CBC News]] |archive-date=May 1, 2025 |access-date=May 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501033033/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-future-conservatives-take-stock-1.7522939 |url-status=live }}</ref> Prominent Conservative Party MPs including [[Andrew Scheer]], [[Shannon Stubbs]], and former cabinet ministers [[Jason Kenney]] and [[James Moore (Canadian politician)|James Moore]] also publicly supported his continued leadership after the election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 29, 2025 |title=Prominent Conservatives back Poilievre as leader after riding loss |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/federal-election/article-prominent-conservatives-back-poilievre-as-leader-after-losing-riding/ |access-date=May 1, 2025 |work=The Globe and Mail |last=Levitz |first=Stephanie |url-access=subscription |language=en-CA |archive-date=May 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501033033/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/federal-election/article-prominent-conservatives-back-poilievre-as-leader-after-losing-riding/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, he was criticized by veteran and senior party members for his demeanour and campaign management that they cited as a reason for the party's loss of the election.<ref>{{Cite web |last2=Ballingall |first1=Raisa |last1=Patel |first2=Alex |date=April 30, 2025 |title='It's an unmitigated disaster': Conservative insiders debate Pierre Poilievre's future as leader after election defeat |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/its-an-unmitigated-disaster-conservative-insiders-debate-pierre-poilievres-future-as-leader-after-election-defeat/article_77df57e9-4da1-4eba-8d22-1904f4cfe309.html |access-date=May 1, 2025 |website=Toronto Star |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
==Principles and policies==
As a relatively young party with a mixed political heritage and history, the federal Conservatives are often described as a "[[big tent]]" party<ref name="CartyTent">{{cite book|author=R. Kenneth Carty|title=Big Tent Politics: The Liberal Party's Long Mastery of Canada's Public Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D-c0CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA16|date=2015|publisher=UBC Press|isbn=978-0-7748-3002-7|pages=16–17|access-date=November 23, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331005406/https://books.google.com/books?id=D-c0CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA16|url-status=live}} - ([https://www.ubcpress.ca/asset/9447/1/9780774829991.pdf PDF copy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306234413/https://www.ubcpress.ca/asset/9447/1/9780774829991.pdf |date=March 6, 2021 }} - UBC Press, 2015)</ref> in a similar manner to the federal Canadian Liberals by encompassing members and voters who hold a variety of philosophies, ideas and stances, albeit sitting within the [[centre-right politics|centre-right]] to the [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] of the political spectrum.<ref name="House2015">{{cite book|author=Freedom House|title=Freedom in the World 2015: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5WEDCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA130|year=2016|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-5408-4|page=130}}</ref><ref name="BlaisLaslier2016">{{cite book|author1=André Blais|author2=Jean-François Laslier|author3=Karihine Van der Straeten|title=Voting Experiments|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_8YwDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA25|year=2016|publisher=Springer International Publishing|isbn=978-3-319-40573-5|pages=25–26}}</ref><ref name="BittnerKoop2013b">{{cite book|author1=Amanda Bittner|author2=Royce Koop|title=Parties, Elections, and the Future of Canadian Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TdFTCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA300|year=2013|publisher=UBC Press|isbn=978-0-7748-2411-8|page=300|access-date=November 5, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331005406/https://books.google.com/books?id=TdFTCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA300|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BaumerGold2015">{{cite book|author1=Donald C. Baumer|author2=Howard J. Gold|title=Parties, Polarization and Democracy in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uBbvCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT152|date=2015|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-25478-2|pages=152–|access-date=November 5, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331010054/https://books.google.com/books?id=uBbvCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT152|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Canadian Encyclopedia"/> Broadly, the party is defined as practicing the Canadian model of [[Canadian conservatism|conservatism]] and fiscal conservatism. Some political observers have noted the two most dominant wings of the party traditionally represented [[Red Tory]] and [[Blue Tory]] ideologies,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/09/02/opinion/erin-otoole-polling-surge-signal-return-red-toryism |title=Does Erin O'Toole's surge signal the return of Red Toryism? |date=September 2, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215153624/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/09/02/opinion/erin-otoole-polling-surge-signal-return-red-toryism |url-status=live }}</ref> whereas others have argued that the party has become less internally defined by these labels and that the terms tend to be used by outsiders.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/ben-woodfinden-red-tory-vs-blue-tory-is-nothing-but-a-trap-set-by-liberals |title=Ben Woodfinden: Red Tory vs. Blue Tory is nothing but a trap set by liberals |newspaper=National Post |date=February 10, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2022}}</ref> Other smaller but visible factional beliefs espoused by individuals within the party have been described by media commentators as [[liberal conservative]], [[social conservative]], [[right-wing populist]] and [[libertarian conservative]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/10/opinion/otooles-conservative-party-fracturing-eve-federal-election|title=O'Toole's Conservative Party fracturing on eve of a federal election|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=April 4, 2022|archive-date=April 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415184607/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/10/opinion/otooles-conservative-party-fracturing-eve-federal-election|url-status=live}}</ref>
In an effort to create a cohesive platform following its creation, the Conservative Party declared its founding core philosophies and principles to be fiscal accountability, upholding individual rights and freedom, belief in constitutional monarchy, the institutions of Parliament and Canada's democratic process, support for strong national defence, law and order, and Canada's history and traditions, and equal treatment for all Canadians.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|title=Policy Declaration|url=https://www.conservative.ca/media/documents/Policy-Declaration-Feb-2014.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627174707/https://www.conservative.ca/media/documents/Policy-Declaration-Feb-2014.pdf|archive-date=June 27, 2019|access-date=June 21, 2018|publisher=Conservative Party of Canada}}</ref>
===Party platform and policies===
In recent years, the Conservative Party has repeatedly campaigned on the following policies:
====Culture====
* [[Official bilingualism in Canada|Bilingualism]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Constitution====
* Supporting Canadian [[federalism]] and opposing [[Quebec separatism]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Monarchism in Canada|Support for maintaining Canada's constitutional monarchy]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Electing Senators, rather than appointing them<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Freedom of speech, expression, religion, press and conscience<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Respecting treaties signed with [[Indigenous Canadians]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Allowing Indigenous Canadians more self-governance over their land<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Economic policy====
* [[Dairy and poultry supply management in Canada|Supply management]] for certain dairy, poultry and eggs<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Extracting [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Construction of [[Pipelines in Canada|pipelines]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* A belief in the right to own [[private property]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Right to work]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Environmental regulation====
* Subsidies and grants for [[Carbon capture and utilization|carbon capture]] technology<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Prohibiting the dumping of raw sewage into rivers<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Marine Protected Areas<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Pollution caps for industries<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Firearms====
* Maintaining the licensing system for firearm owners<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Maintaining the prohibition of short-barreled [[handguns]] and [[fully automatic firearm]]s, including [[assault rifles]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Opposing the prohibition of long-barreled [[handguns]] and [[semi-automatic firearm]]s<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Gender====
* Equal opportunity for men and women<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Foreign policy====
* Support for most [[free trade]] agreements, including [[United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement|NAFTA]], [[Canada–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement]], [[Trans-Pacific Partnership|TPP]] and [[CETA]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[CANZUK]] formation and membership<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Membership in [[NATO]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Membership in the [[United Nations]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Excluding [[abortion]] funding from foreign aid<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Support for [[Israel]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Status of Jerusalem|Recognizing]] [[Jerusalem]] as Israel's capital<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Prohibiting the Chinese government from owning Canada's [[5G]] infrastructure<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Healthcare and social programs====
* Single-payer publicly funded healthcare<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Canada Pension Plan]] program<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Defunding the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] public broadcaster<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
==
* Linking immigration to housing and job supply<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |url=https://financialpost.com/real-estate/pierre-poilievre-pledges-tie-immigration-levels-homebuilding |title=Pierre Poilievre pledges to tie immigration levels to homebuilding |access-date=August 15, 2024 |quote=The Conservative politician who’s trying to take down Justin Trudeau said that if he’s elected, he would link Canada’s immigration levels to the number of homes being built. |archive-date=January 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121210156/https://financialpost.com/real-estate/pierre-poilievre-pledges-tie-immigration-levels-homebuilding |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Opposing [[illegal immigration]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Law-enforcement====
* [[Mandatory minimum sentences]] for violent and sexual crimes<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Opposing the [[police abolition movement]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Creating a national [[sex offender registry]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Opposition to the legalization of [[recreational drugs]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Life issues====
* Opposing the expansion of [[assisted suicide]] to those solely suffering from [[mental illness]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Conscience rights for medical practitioners<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Military====
* Increasing military spending to 2% of Canada's GDP<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
====Taxation and fiscal policy====
* [[Income tax]] reductions<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Income splitting]] for families<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Business tax]] reductions<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Capital gains tax]] reductions<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Opposition to a [[carbon tax]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Tax simplification<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Balanced budget]] legislation<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Reducing the national debt<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* Reducing [[corporate welfare|grants and subsidies]] to businesses<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
===Domestic policies===
In its current platform, the Conservative Party states that its core objectives are to protect the lives and property of ordinary citizens, promote democratic accountability and reform the [[Senate of Canada|senate]] to make it a fully elected chamber. While the party platform states it is open to debate over electoral reform, it also claims it will not support changing the current electoral system.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=Policy Declaration |url=https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/15090948/9f7f204744e7480.pdf |access-date=September 12, 2023 |website=Conservative Party of Canada |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101072535/https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/15090948/9f7f204744e7480.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
The party calls for a "restoration of a constitutional balance between the federal and
provincial and territorial governments" in regards to Canadian federalism. The Conservative Party also advocates offering tax incentives, increased business investment and more political autonomy to assist and integrate [[Indigenous Canadian]] communities over state [[affirmative action]].<ref name="auto1" />
Historically, Conservative MPs were divided on the issue of [[same-sex marriage]] in Canada, with individuals in the party arguing for and against.<ref name="wary Tories">{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060531/conservatives_samesex_060531?s_name=&no_ads= |title=Many Tories wary about 2nd gay-marriage vote |date=May 31, 2006 |work=CTV News |access-date=June 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018085055/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060531/conservatives_samesex_060531?s_name=&no_ads= |archive-date=October 18, 2006}}</ref> During debates on Bill C-38 in 2004 which would redefine the legal definition of marriage in Canada, a majority of Conservative MPs voted against when then leader [[Stephen Harper]] allowed a [[free vote]]. Under Harper's premiership, the party proposed reopening the debate into same-sex marriage but following a defeat of the motion in the House of Commons stated it would not seek to reopen it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howdtheyvote.ca/bill.php?id=528 |title=How'd They Vote? :: Bill C-38, Same-sex Marriage |website=www.howdtheyvote.ca |access-date=April 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060215190454/http://www.howdtheyvote.ca/bill.php?id=528 |archive-date=February 15, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2016, the Conservatives amended the party constitution to recognize and support same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/05/28/accept-same-sex-marriage-kenney-tells-tory-convention.html |title=Tories vote to accept same-sex marriage |website=[[Toronto Star]] |date=May 28, 2016 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313205447/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/05/28/accept-same-sex-marriage-kenney-tells-tory-convention.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="lapresse1">{{cite news |last1=Denis Bellavance |first1=Joël |title="Le mariage gai est un succès", dit Pierre Poilievre |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2020-01-17/le-mariage-gai-est-un-succes-dit-pierre-poilievre |website=La Presse |access-date=November 25, 2021 |date=January 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405093806/https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2020-01-17/le-mariage-gai-est-un-succes-dit-pierre-poilievre |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Conservative leadership has supported changing the law to allow [[Blood donation restrictions on men who have sex with men|men who have sex with men to donate blood]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Here's where the parties stand on LGBTQ issues |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-federal-election-lgbtq-1.5306119 |website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127152541/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-federal-election-lgbtq-1.5306119 |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Economic and environmental policies===
[[File:Andrew Scheer and Pierre Poilievre June 2018.jpg|thumb|[[Andrew Scheer]] and [[Pierre Poilievre]] making a speech on abolishing the carbon tax and the increase of taxes on drivers.]]
The party wants to keep the "Fiscal Balance" (which it introduced in its 2007 Budget while in government) in place and eliminate national debt. It also supports more simplified tax codes, controls on government spending and reductions in both personal and business taxes.<ref name="auto1"/> Former party leader [[Erin O'Toole]] has listed economic recovery following the [[COVID-19]] pandemic as a core priority for Canada.<ref name="cbc052920">{{cite news |last1=Tasker |first1=John Paul |title=MacKay, O'Toole pitch pandemic recovery plans heavy on tax incentives, fiscal prudence |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mackay-otoole-jobs-plan-1.5588826 |access-date=August 26, 2020 |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-date=August 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826050807/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mackay-otoole-jobs-plan-1.5588826 |url-status=live }}</ref> The party also supports abolishing the Carbon Tax.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Osman |first=Laura |date=March 28, 2024 |title=Conservatives blast experts who defend federal carbon tax |url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/28/news/conservatives-blast-experts-defend-federal-carbon-tax |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=Canada's National Observer |language=en |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614141109/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/28/news/conservatives-blast-experts-defend-federal-carbon-tax |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the party's March 2021 policy convention, delegates voted to reject a proposal to expand the party's existing climate change policies to include a statement that [[climate change]] is real.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tasker|first=John Paul|date=March 20, 2021|title=Conservative delegates reject adding 'climate change is real' to the policy book|work=[[CBC News]]|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-delegates-reject-climate-change-is-real-1.5957739|access-date=March 20, 2021|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320141750/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-delegates-reject-climate-change-is-real-1.5957739|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 20, 2021 |title=Canadian Conservative party votes not to recognize climate crisis as real |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/20/canada-conservative-party-climate-change-real |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913225822/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/20/canada-conservative-party-climate-change-real |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2024 |title=Why Conservatives Turned against the Environment {{!}} The Walrus |url=https://thewalrus.ca/why-conservatives-turned-against-the-environment/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614141324/https://thewalrus.ca/why-conservatives-turned-against-the-environment/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Foreign policy===
The Conservative Party presently supports Canada's involvement in [[NATO]] and international trade agreements, including a [[CANZUK]] agreement that would enable mobilization of goods, trade and people between [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. The party is also supportive of [[Israel]]; Conservative leaders [[Andrew Scheer]] and [[Erin O'Toole]] have both expressed support for moving Canada's embassy to [[Jerusalem]].
The party also supports taking a tough stance against the [[People's Republic of China]] and has pledged to prevent China from entering Canada's 5G Networks.
The party also calls on Canada to encourage other Western nations to prevent Chinese government backed corporations from accessing and taking control of important media, energy, internet, defence and security related infrastructure.<ref name=mckenna101620>{{cite news |last1=McKenna |first1=Peter |title=Peter McKenna: What would an Erin O'Toole foreign policy look like? |url=https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/regional-perspectives/peter-mckenna-what-would-an-erin-otoole-foreign-policy-look-like-509361/ |access-date=October 16, 2020 |work=The Chronicle Herald |date=October 15, 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017201858/https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/regional-perspectives/peter-mckenna-what-would-an-erin-otoole-foreign-policy-look-like-509361/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-jerusalem-trump-israel-1.4552646| title=Scheer says Tories will recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital if elected| first=Stephanie| last=Levitz| date=February 26, 2018| website=cbc.ca| access-date=November 13, 2020| archive-date=November 9, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041038/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-jerusalem-trump-israel-1.4552646| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/03/07/israel-policy-the-makings-of-a-major-blunder-by-scheer.html| title=Israel policy the makings of a major blunder by Scheer| newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]| first=Bob| last=Hepburn| date=March 7, 2018| access-date=November 13, 2020| archive-date=November 15, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115055512/https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/03/07/israel-policy-the-makings-of-a-major-blunder-by-scheer.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/>
===Canadian identity, social policies and immigration===
The party supports maintaining the Official Languages Act ensuring that English and French have equality of status in Canada. It also calls for the protection of Canada's history, culture and heritage. It also supports the re-establishment of the Office of Religious Freedom.<ref name="auto1"/> The Conservative Party constitution also supports maintaining the constitutional [[Monarchy of Canada]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitution |website=Conservative Party of Canada |date=March 29, 2005 |url=https://www.conservative.ca/media/20050319-CPCConstitution.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520101801/http://www.conservative.ca/media/20050319-CPCConstitution.pdf |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |page=1 |access-date=June 1, 2010}}</ref>
The party has called for an immigration system that is "non-partisan, welcoming and well-managed" that encourages merit-based immigration and enticement of skilled workers to Canada to boost the economy while also taking a zero tolerance stance on illegal immigration and ensuring that immigrants speak English or French. The Conservatives also want to streamline the process of granting Canadian citizenship to foreign born children adopted by Canadian nationals, speed up the validation of refugee claims and give help to persecuted religious and sexual minorities while ensuring those who do not meet refugee status are escorted out of the country. Some MPs within the party have proposed a ''Canadian values test'' for prospective immigrants and long-term visitors, although this has not been adopted as a policy as a whole.
Following the [[2019–20 Hong Kong protests]], several members of the party including former leader [[Erin O'Toole]] called on the Canadian government to grant asylum to fleeing Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters facing extradition orders to China. The party also proposes eliminating birthright citizenship unless one of the parents of a child born in Canada has permanent residency or Canadian citizenship.<ref name="auto1"/>
Incumbent Conservative leader [[Pierre Poilievre]] has vocally criticized the immigration policies of [[Justin Trudeau]]'s Liberal government and supports significantly restricting numbers of temporary residents and asylum seekers coming into Canada.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/sep/03/canada-trudeau-immigration-limits |title=Canada turning away more foreigners amid rise in anti-immigration sentiment |newspaper=The Guardian |date=September 3, 2024 |access-date=October 11, 2024 |last1=Cecco |first1=Leyland }}</ref><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/pierre-poilievre-housing-crisis-runaway-immigration-levels |title=John Ivison: Poilievre signals he's willing to take a hatchet to runaway immigration levels |access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Immigration: "Le Québec est au point de rupture", dit Poilievre |url=https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2024/06/20/immigration-le-quebec-est-au-point-de-rupture-dit-poilievre |access-date=June 27, 2024 |agency=TVA Nouvelles |date=June 20, 2024 |quote={{lang|fr|«Ça va être beaucoup plus bas, surtout pour l’immigration temporaire. C’est impossible d’inviter 1,2 million de nouvelles personnes au Canada chaque année lorsqu’on bâtit 200 000 logements. C’est impossible. Il n’y a pas de place. Le Québec est au point de rupture», a déclaré le chef conservateur en entrevue au TVA Nouvelles.}} |archive-date=November 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112223525/https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2024/06/20/immigration-le-quebec-est-au-point-de-rupture-dit-poilievre |url-status=live }}</ref>
Poilievre instead argues that immigration intake should be linked to housing supply and that the Conservatives will introduce a cap on the number of foreign workers and further border control and background screening measures of immigrants.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/canada-reduce-immigration-targets-trudeau-acknowledges-policy-failed-115111486 |title=Canada will reduce immigration targets as Trudeau acknowledges his policy failed |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/10829300/immigration-flip-flop-poilievre-blasts-trudeaus-policy-change-as-liberals-express-discontent/ |title='Immigration flip-flop': Poilievre blasts Trudeau's policy change as Liberals express discontent |access-date=October 23, 2024 |archive-date=October 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241027053824/https://globalnews.ca/video/10829300/immigration-flip-flop-poilievre-blasts-trudeaus-policy-change-as-liberals-express-discontent/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Conservatives also support a stricter policy on [[Illegal immigration to Canada|illegal immigration]] by amending the "[[Safe Third Country Agreement]]" and the reintroduction of visa requirements for Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-trudeau-mexico-visa-requirements-asylum-claims-1.7093248 |title=Poilievre calls on Trudeau to reimpose visa requirements on Mexico as asylum claims soar |access-date=October 11, 2024 |archive-date=November 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111203152/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-trudeau-mexico-visa-requirements-asylum-claims-1.7093248 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.conservative.ca/trudeau-must-reimpose-visa-requirements-on-mexico/ |title=Trudeau Must Reimpose Visa Requirements on Mexico |date=January 24, 2024 |access-date=October 11, 2024 |archive-date=November 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111201646/https://www.conservative.ca/trudeau-must-reimpose-visa-requirements-on-mexico/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/legault-transfer-migrants-1.6756067 |title=Poilievre adds to Legault's call for Liberal government to close Roxham Road border crossing |access-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824225220/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/legault-transfer-migrants-1.6756067 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Law and order===
The Conservative Party generally supports a tough law and order stance. Presently, the party argues for a national register for convicted child sexual offenders, stricter sentences against repeat offenders, ending early release for violent felons and believes that victims of violent crime should have a say in National Parole Board decisions. The party also supports the creation of a cross-federal task force to tackle organized crime, human trafficking and threats to national security.<ref name="auto1"/> Some Conservative MPs are in favour of [[Capital punishment in Canada|the death penalty]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canseco |first=Mario |date=April 3, 2024 |title=Purported Return of the Death Penalty Splits Views in Canada |url=https://researchco.ca/2024/04/03/death-penalty-canada-2024/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=Research Co. |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Abortion ===
The Conservative Party has both members and MPs who favour [[Abortion in Canada|abortion rights and members who oppose them]]. In the past, more Conservative members have been against abortion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 30, 2019 |title=Why social issues are a hot topic in Canada's autumn election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49528267 |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726205328/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49528267 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lindeman |first=Tracey |date=August 3, 2023 |title=Canada has zero pro-choice Conservative MPs, watchdog says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/03/canada-abortion-rights-pregnancy |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913225823/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/03/canada-abortion-rights-pregnancy |url-status=live }}</ref>
However, the party's policy book states that the party "will not support any legislation to regulate abortion" while in government,<ref>{{cite web | title=Conservative Party of Canada Policy Declaration, as amended September 9, 2023 | url=https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23175001/990863517f7a575.pdf | ref={{sfnref | Anon.}} | access-date=August 1, 2024 | archive-date=September 13, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913225821/https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23175001/990863517f7a575.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> and the party's current leader, Pierre Poilievre, has stated that "no laws or rules will be passed that restrict women's reproductive choices" if he becomes prime minister.<ref>{{cite web | title=Pierre Poilievre disagrees with Conservative MP who wants to vote against same-sex marriage | website=CBC | date=July 18, 2024 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-same-sex-marriage-abortion-1.7222881 | ref={{sfnref | CBC | 2024}} | access-date=August 1, 2024 | archive-date=September 13, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913225827/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-same-sex-marriage-abortion-1.7222881 | url-status=live }}</ref>
===Gun ownership===
The party states that it supports responsible gun ownership and will "not deprive Canadian Citizens of legally owned firearms" but also calls for cost-effective gun control programs including screening all individuals wishing to purchase firearms and increased enforcement against arms trafficking.<ref name="auto1"/>
==Regional conservative parties==
{{Main|Conservative parties in Canada}}
The Conservative Party does not have any provincial wings. However, it often works closely with the former federal Progressive Conservative Party's provincial affiliates as well as other small "c" conservative and centre-right provincial parties, such as the [[Saskatchewan Party]].
Cross-support between federal and provincial Conservatives is more tenuous in some other provinces. In Alberta, relations were sometimes strained between the federal Conservative Party and the [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|provincial Progressive Conservative Party]]. The federal Tories' loss in the 2004 election was often blamed, in part, on then-Premier [[Ralph Klein]]'s public musings on health care late in the campaign. Klein had also called for a [[referendum]] on [[same-sex marriage in Canada|same-sex marriage]]. With the impending 2006 election, Klein predicted another Liberal minority, though this time the federal Conservatives won a minority government. Klein's successor [[Ed Stelmach]] tried to avoid causing similar controversies; however, Harper's surprise pledge to restrict [[bitumen]] exports drew a sharp rebuke from the Albertan government, who warned such restrictions would violate both the [[Constitution of Canada]] and the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]].{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} The rise of the [[Wildrose Party]] caused a further rift between the federal Conservatives and the Albertan PCs, as some Conservative backbench MPs endorsed Wildrose. For the [[2012 Alberta general election|2012 Alberta election]], Prime Minister Harper remained neutral and instructed federal cabinet members to also remain neutral while allowing Conservative backbenchers to back whomever they chose if they wish. Wildrose candidates for the concurrent [[2012 Alberta Senate nominee election|Senate nominee election]] announced they would sit in the Conservative caucus should they be appointed to the Senate.
After the 2007 budget was announced, the Progressive Conservative governments in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador accused the federal Conservatives of breaching the terms of the [[Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord|Atlantic Accord]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ferguson|first1=Rob|last2=MacCharles|first2=Tonda|date=June 12, 2007|title=Harper lashes out at latest critic: See you in court|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/06/12/harper_lashes_out_at_latest_critic_see_you_in_court.html|access-date=July 10, 2019|website=The Star|archive-date=July 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710012733/https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/06/12/harper_lashes_out_at_latest_critic_see_you_in_court.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
As a result, relations worsened between the federal government and the two provincial governments, leading Newfoundland and Labrador Premier [[Danny Williams (Canadian politician)|Danny Williams]] to denounce the federal Conservatives, which gave rise to his ABC ([[Anything But Conservative]]) campaign in the 2008 election.
==Composition==
===National Council===
The National Council of the CPC is its "highest governing body".<ref name="hilltimes_Rana_20210321">{{Cite news| last = Rana| first = Abbas| title = Conservatives elect former Hill staffer, two-term Nova Scotia national councillor Batherson as party president, 'and now the work begins'| work = The Hill Times| access-date = March 21, 2021| date = March 21, 2021| url = https://www.hilltimes.com/2021/03/21/former-hill-staffer-and-two-term-nova-scotia-national-councillor-batherson-elected-as-conservative-party-president/289819| archive-date = March 21, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210321205323/https://www.hilltimes.com/2021/03/21/former-hill-staffer-and-two-term-nova-scotia-national-councillor-batherson-elected-as-conservative-party-president/289819| url-status = live}}</ref> Stephen Barber has served as President of the National Council since 2023.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bradley | first=Jonathan | title=Conservative national council elects Stephen Barber as new president | website=Western Standard | date=September 11, 2023 | url=https://www.westernstandard.news/news/conservative-national-council-elects-stephen-barber-as-new-president/article_f8e0ce9c-50e8-11ee-8124-c3076459eaaa.html | access-date=August 6, 2024 | archive-date=August 6, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806200920/https://www.westernstandard.news/news/conservative-national-council-elects-stephen-barber-as-new-president/article_f8e0ce9c-50e8-11ee-8124-c3076459eaaa.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The National Council has 21 seats, including four from Ontario, three from Quebec, two from British Columbia, two from Alberta, two from Saskatchewan, two from Manitoba, four from Atlantic Canada, and one from each of the three territories.<ref name="hilltimes_Rana_20210321"/>
===Geography===
The Conservative Party has historically been strongest in [[Western Canada]] as well as rural [[Ontario]].<ref name="The Canadian Encyclopedia 2021 u150">{{cite web | title=Voting Behaviour in Canada | website=The Canadian Encyclopedia | date=May 6, 2021 | url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/electoral-behaviour | access-date=April 15, 2024 | archive-date=September 13, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913225825/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/electoral-behaviour | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The Canadian Encyclopedia 2011 a407">{{cite web | title=Conservative Party | website=The Canadian Encyclopedia | date=July 1, 2011 | url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/conservative-party | access-date=April 15, 2024 | archive-date=April 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426212748/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/conservative-party | url-status=live }}</ref> The party is strongest particularly in the provinces of [[Alberta]], [[Manitoba]] and [[Saskatchewan]], where it holds 30 out of 34 and all 14 federal seats respectively.<ref name="House of Commons of Canada y518">{{cite web | title=Party Standings in the House of Commons | website=House of Commons of Canada | url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/party-standings | access-date=April 15, 2024 | archive-date=April 8, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408154122/https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/party-standings | url-status=live }}</ref> It tends to be weaker in [[Quebec]] and [[Atlantic Canada]], particularly [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] and [[Prince Edward Island]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Farney|first=James|title=Conservatism in Canada|publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=2013|page=213}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Plamondon|first=Bob|title=Blue Thunder: The Truth About Conservatives from Macdonald to Harper|publisher=Key Porter Books|year=2013}}</ref>
==== Youth wing ====
There is no official [[youth wing]] of the Conservative Party of Canada. There have been several attempts to create one, but all have failed. Despite this the party sets its minimum membership and [[voting age]] at 14. The party does however have several affiliated campus clubs at various universities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Governing Documents |url=https://www.conservative.ca/about-us/governing-documents/ |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=Conservative Party of Canada |language=en-US |archive-date=January 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117211427/https://www.conservative.ca/about-us/governing-documents/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Campus Clubs |url=https://www.conservative.ca/campus-clubs/ |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=Conservative Party of Canada |language=en-US |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123090245/https://www.conservative.ca/campus-clubs/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=By-Law for Campus Club Recognition and Network of the Conservative Party of Canada |url=https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/08155706/563593f115791eb.pdf |website=Conservative Party of Canada |access-date=January 8, 2025 |archive-date=January 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118000454/https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/08155706/563593f115791eb.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Party leadership==
{{See also|Cabinet of Canada|Prime Minister of Canada|List of Canadian conservative leaders}}
===Leader===
{{see also|Conservative Party of Canada leadership elections}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=3 | Leader
! Term start
! Term end
! Constituency
! Notes
|-
| ''Interim'' || [[File:No image.svg|100px]] || {{nowrap|[[John Lynch-Staunton]]}}<br />(June 19, 1930 – August 17, 2012) || {{nowrap|December 8, 2003}} || March 20, 2004 || Senator for [[Quebec|Grandville, Quebec]] || Interim leader, served concurrently as [[Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada|Senate Opposition Leader]].
|-
| || [[File:Stephen-Harper-Cropped-2014-02-18.jpg|100px]] || [[Stephen Harper]]<br />(b. April 30, 1959) || [[2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|March 20, 2004]] || {{nowrap|October 19, 2015}} || [[Calgary Southwest]], Alberta || Served as [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Official Opposition]] from 2004 to 2006, and [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] from 2006 to 2015.
|-
| ''Interim'' || [[File:Rona Ambrose at the 67th World Health Assembly - 2014 (second crop).png|100px]] || [[Rona Ambrose]]<br />(b. March 15, 1969) || November 5, 2015 || May 27, 2017 || [[Sturgeon River—Parkland]], Alberta || Interim leader, served concurrently as [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Official Opposition]].
|-
| || [[File:Andrew Scheer portrait style (cropped).jpg|100px]] || [[Andrew Scheer]]<br />(b. May 20, 1979) || [[2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|May 27, 2017]] || August 24, 2020 || [[Regina—Qu'Appelle]], Saskatchewan || Served concurrently as [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Official Opposition]].
|-
|-
| || [[File:Erin_O'Toole_portrait_(cropped).png|100px]] || [[Erin O'Toole]]<br />(b. January 22, 1973) || [[2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|August 24, 2020]] || February 2, 2022 || [[Durham (electoral district)|Durham]], Ontario || Served concurrently as [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Official Opposition]].
|-
| ''Interim'' || [[File:Candice Bergen - 2017 (cropped).jpg|100px]] || [[Candice Bergen (politician)|Candice Bergen]]<br />(b. September 28, 1964) || February 2, 2022 || September 10, 2022 || [[Portage—Lisgar]], Manitoba || Interim leader, served concurrently as [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Official Opposition]].
|-
| || [[File:Pierre Poilievre in 2023..jpg|100px]] || [[Pierre Poilievre]]<br />(b. June 3, 1979) || [[2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|September 10, 2022]] || ''Incumbent'' || Previously [[Carleton (Ontario federal electoral district)|Carleton]], Ontario. Currently without a seat. || Serves concurrently as [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Official Opposition]].
|-
|}
===Deputy Leader===
The Deputy Leader is appointed by the Leader.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Deputy Leader
! Term start
! Term end
!Constituency
! Appointed by
! Notes
|-
| [[File:Peter MacKay crop.JPG|100px]] || [[Peter MacKay]] || March 22, 2004 || November 5, 2015
|[[Central Nova]], Nova Scotia||[[Stephen Harper]]
|
|-
| [[File:Denis Lebel 2017.jpg|100px]] || [[Denis Lebel]] || November 18, 2015 || July 21, 2017
|[[Lac-Saint-Jean]], Quebec||[[Rona Ambrose]] (2015–2017)<br />[[Andrew Scheer]] (2017)
|
|-
|[[File:Lisa Raitt - 2017 (36917974502) (cropped)2.jpg|100px]]|| [[Lisa Raitt]] || July 21, 2017|| November 28, 2019
|[[Milton (federal electoral district)|Milton]], Ontario||[[Andrew Scheer]]
|
|-
|[[File:Leona Alleslev 2017 wiki (cropped).jpg|100px]]|| [[Leona Alleslev]] || November 28, 2019|| July 12, 2020
|[[Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill (federal electoral district)|Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill]], Ontario||[[Andrew Scheer]]
|
|-
|[[File:The Conservative Party of Canada - 2018 (41676503252) (cropped).jpg|100px]]|| [[Candice Bergen (politician)|Candice Bergen]] || September 2, 2020|| February 2, 2022
|[[Portage—Lisgar]], Manitoba||[[Erin O'Toole]]
|
|-
|[[File:Luc Berthold 2019.jpg|100px]]|| [[Luc Berthold]] || February 6, 2022 ||September 12, 2022
|[[Mégantic—L'Érable]], Quebec||[[Candice Bergen (politician)|Candice Bergen]]
|
|-
|[[File:Collision 2023 - Future Societies AL7I8223 (53006188080) (cropped).jpg|100px]]||[[Melissa Lantsman]]|| rowspan="2" | September 13, 2022 || rowspan="2" |''Incumbent''
|[[Thornhill (federal electoral district)|Thornhill]], Ontario|| rowspan="2" |[[Pierre Poilievre]]
| ''Serving with [[Tim Uppal]]''
|-
|[[File:uppalmp.png|100px]]||[[Tim Uppal]]
|[[Edmonton Mill Woods]], Alberta
|''Serving with [[Melissa Lantsman]]''
|}
===Party presidents===
* [[Don Plett]] (2003–2009; interim until 2005)
* [[John Walsh (Canadian politician)|John Walsh]] (2009–2016)
* [[Scott Lamb (lawyer)|Scott Lamb]] (2016–2021)
* [[Robert Batherson]] (2021–2023)
* Stephen Barber (2023–present)
==Parliamentary caucus==
===House of Commons===
{{Main|Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 44th Parliament of Canada}}
===Senate Caucus===
The Conservative Party's senate [[parliamentary group|caucus]] is the only political Senate Group that is formally linked to a federal political party. Unlike the [[Independent Senators Group]], [[Canadian Senators Group]] and the [[Progressive Senate Group]], which are unaffiliated with any party in the House of Commons, Conservative senators form part of the national Conservative parliamentary caucus made up of members of both houses of parliament, though the senators do meet separately to discuss Senate-specific issues.
The caucus was created following the establishment of the modern Conservative Party of Canada on February 2, 2004, as a result of the merger of the [[Canadian Alliance]] and the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]]. All but three Progressive Conservative Senators joined the Conservative Party and were redesignated as Conservative senators.
When in government, the leader of the caucus has been appointed by the national Conservative Party leader, serving as Prime Minister of Canada. When in Opposition the leader is elected by Conservative senators. Most recently, [[Don Plett]] was elected Senate Conservative leader on November 5, 2019, defeating one other candidate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dickson |first1=Janice |title=Tories elect Don Plett as new Opposition Leader in the Senate |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-tories-elect-don-plett-as-new-opposition-leader-in-the-senate/ |website=www.theglobeandmail.com |access-date=April 30, 2020 |archive-date=November 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112190203/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-tories-elect-don-plett-as-new-opposition-leader-in-the-senate/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The first leader of the senate caucus, [[John Lynch-Staunton]], also served as interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada until a leadership election could be held.
The Senate Conservative Caucus and the Conservative MPs in the House of Commons jointly constitute the national Conservative caucus. Nevertheless, [[Denise Batters]] was permitted to remain a member of the Senate Conservative Caucus despite being expelled from the national Conservative caucus on November 16, 2021, for publicly opposing the leadership of Erin O'Toole.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Ian |title=Not entirely ousted: Senator critical of O'Toole remains member of Tory Senate caucus |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-not-entirely-ousted-senator-critical-of-otoole-remains-member-of-tory/ |access-date=November 18, 2021 |work=Globe and Mail |date=November 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119011317/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-not-entirely-ousted-senator-critical-of-otoole-remains-member-of-tory/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Conservative leaders in the Senate====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Leader
! Term start
! Term end
! Notes
|-
| [[File:No image.svg|100px]]|| [[John Lynch-Staunton]] || December 8, 2003 || September 30, 2004 || Also national leader until election of [[Stephen Harper]] on March 20, 2004; served concurrently as [[Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada|Leader of the Opposition in the Senate]]
|-
| [[File:Noël Kinsella Senate of Poland 01.JPG|100px]] || [[Noël A. Kinsella]]|| October 1, 2004 || February 6, 2006 ||[[Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Canada)|Leader of the Opposition in the Senate]]
|-
| [[File:Marjory LeBreton.jpg|100px]]||[[Marjory LeBreton]]|| February 6, 2006 || July 14, 2013 ||[[Representative of the Government in the Senate|Leader of the Government in the Senate]]; also served as Minister without portfolio until January 4, 2007, and Secretary of State for Seniors from January 4, 2007, until July 4, 2013.
|-
| [[File:No image.svg|100px]] || [[Claude Carignan]]|| August 20, 2013 || March 21, 2017 ||[[Representative of the Government in the Senate|Leader of the Government in the Senate]] until November 4, 2015, then became [[Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Canada)|Leader of the Opposition in the Senate]]
|-
| [[File:Larry Smith.png|100px]] ||[[Larry Smith (Canadian politician)|Larry Smith]]
|| April 1, 2017 ||November 5, 2019||[[Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Canada)|Leader of the Opposition in the Senate]]
|-
| [[File:Don Plett 2009.jpg|100px]] ||[[Don Plett]]
|| November 5, 2019||''Incumbent'' ||[[Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Canada)|Leader of the Opposition in the Senate]]
|}
== Election results ==
===House of Commons===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Election
! Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! Position
! Status
|-
! [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004]]
|rowspan=5| [[Stephen Harper]]
| 4,019,498
| 29.63
| {{Composition bar|99|308|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}}}
| {{increase}} 21{{efn|Compared to Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties combined.}}
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006]]
| 5,374,071
| 36.27
| {{Composition bar|124|308|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative }}}}
| {{increase}} 25
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008]]
| 5,209,069
| 37.65
| {{Composition bar|143|308|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative }}}}
| {{increase}} 19
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011]]
| 5,832,401
| 39.62
| {{Composition bar|166|308|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative }}}}
| {{increase}} 23
| {{steady}} 1st
| {{yes|Majority}}
|-
! [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015]]
| 5,578,101
| 31.89
| {{Composition bar|99|338|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative }}}}
| {{decrease}} 67
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]]
| [[Andrew Scheer]]
| 6,239,227
| 34.34
| {{Composition bar|121|338|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}}}
| {{increase}} 22
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021]]
| [[Erin O'Toole]]
| 5,747,410
| 33.74
| {{Composition bar|119|338|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2025 Canadian federal election|2025]]
| [[Pierre Poilievre]]
| 8,099,549
| 41.27
| {{Composition bar|143|343|hex={{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}}}
| {{increase}} 24
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}
{{Graph:Chart
|width=300
|height=150
|xAxisTitle=
|yAxisTitle=% of votes
|type=rect
|xAxisFormat=%
|x=2004,2006,2008,2011,2015,2019,2021
|y=29.6,36.3,37.7,39.6,31.9,34.3,33.7
|colors=#6495ed
|showValues=offset:4
}}
==See also==
{{Portal|Conservatism|Canada|Politics}}
* [[List of federal political parties in Canada]]
* Predecessor parties:
** [[Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)]]
** [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] (1942–2003)
** [[Reform Party of Canada]] (1987–2000)
** [[Canadian Alliance]] (2000–2003)
==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
===Archival holdings===
*[https://wayback.archive-it.org/227/*/http://www.conservative.ca Conservative Party of Canada – Canadian Political Parties and Political Interest Groups] – Web Archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries
*[https://wayback.archive-it.org/227/*/http://www.conservateur.ca/ Conservative Party of Canada (French) – Canadian Political Parties and Political Interest Groups] – Web Archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries
==External links==
* {{commons category-inline|Conservative Party of Canada}}
* {{wikinews inline|Category:Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party of Canada}}
* {{Official website}}
{{Conservative Party of Canada}}
{{Canadian federal political parties}}
{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Canadian Conservative Parties}}
{{International Democracy Union}}
{{Canadian Conservative Leaders}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conservative Party Of Canada}}
[[
[[Category:2003 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in Canada]]
[[Category:Federal political parties in Canada]]
[[Category:International Democracy Union member parties]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Ottawa]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2003]]
[[Category:Right-wing politics in Canada]]
[[Category:Toryism]]
[[Category:Centre-right parties]]
[[Category:Right-wing parties]]
| |||