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THE RETURN of JOE CLARK: NEW HOPE for CONSERVATIVES? Introduction THE RETURN OF JOE CLARK: NEW HOPE FOR CONSERVATIVES? Introduction When Joe Clark won the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party on November 14, 1998, it had been almost 23 years since his first federal leadership win. In 1976, Clark achieved victory after a long, drawn-out party convention that involved 11 candidates, 2300 delegates, and four nerve-wracking ballots. During that race, Clark's bid seemed unlikely. He was considered a fresh face, and at 36 years of age he was an unknown quantity. Clark's eventual victory meant he would be leading a 95-member caucus in the House of Commons and serving as Leader of the Official Opposition. In those days the party's finances were strong since it was the only national alternative to the Liberal Party. In terms of ideology, the party was also the undisputed national voice of fiscal and social conservatism. In 1998 there was no hotly contested leadership convention and there was little surprise when Clark was chosen leader. Instead, the leadership was determined by the grassroots membership in an innovative process that involved roughly half of the more than 90 000 party members. Voting occurred by secret ballot in local riding associations far from Ottawa. There was little dramatic television coverage, and Clark's acceptance speech was seen and heard by few Canadians. In the past, such events were considered major opportunities for winning voters in advance of an election. No longer a fresh face or an unknown quantity, Clark stressed in his campaign his experience, his public service record, and his reputation of trustworthiness. These strengths, however, also saddled him with the persona of "yesterday's man" and he was considered by some to be too old. And this time he assumed leadership of a 19- member caucus with fifth-party status in the House of Commons and a party with a $10-million debt. The most dissimilar aspect, however, of Clark's two leadership opportunities is the party's diminished role in Canada as guardian of the principles of conservatism. In 1976 Clark led a national party that claimed to be the undisputed voice of fiscal and social conservatism. There was little debate about who represented the so-called "right." But with the emergence of the Reform Party in the late 1980s the political landscape changed. Clark has emerged as leader of the Progressive Conservatives, but now he is in a new contest with Preston Manning for overall leadership of the right. And Manning, believing that only an alliance can defeat the governing Liberals, has invited the Progressive Conservatives to join with the Reform Party in a coalition. This strategy was supported in principle by the results of a poll conducted by Compas Incorporated that suggested that a combined right-of-centre federal party would pose a serious political challenge to the Liberals. Despite this news, Clark made it clear he would reject Manning's offer, and he refused all offers to attend the United Alternative Convention planned for February 1999. In 1976 Clark's challenge was to unite a party that was divided, as often happens during leadership campaigns. In 1998 he needs to bring back disaffected Conservatives who left the party for the Reform and Liberal camps and to reinvent the Progressive Conservative Party in order to make it once again the true national voice of conservatism. Many political observers believe that the future viability and success of the party depends on Clark's ability to succeed in this challenge. Despite vague references to his own conservative strategy, he has also claimed that only the Progressive Conservative Party can achieve a true national sense of purpose while at the same time promoting the principles of fiscal and social conservatism. As he said in his acceptance speech, "There is absolutely no question about our ability to pull together and work together . to unite our party and our country. That is now the message of my leadership." Introduction Back to the Future An Experiment in Democracy Why Joe? A Glorious History The United Alternative Discussion, Research, and Essay Questions THE RETURN OF JOE CLARK: NEW HOPE FOR CONSERVATIVES? Back to the Future In the Hollywood film Back to the Future, Michael J. Fox plays the young hero Marty McFly, who accidentally gets sent back in time to the year 1955. Inadvertently he meddles with the past and eliminates the one critical encounter that originally brought his parents together. For the rest of the film Marty endeavours to get his two "future" parents romantically involved. Failing to do this would put his very existence and future in jeopardy. To "get back" to the future and "save" it, Marty must "fix" the past. When Joe Clark won the Progressive Conservative leadership on November 14, 1998, his political re- emergence was described by some as that of "Yesterday's Man," "Déjà Vu," and "Back to the Future." Some political observers welcomed Clark's return to politics and argued that the PC party's return to prominence could only be achieved if the party returned to its roots, to its past based on its fiscal and social conservative beliefs—and Clark, as past leader, was the best man to do this. The past was viewed as the party's saving grace. Other analysts, however, argue that the party's choice of Clark is a non- progressive, backward step. They feel that a return to the past will bring few benefits to the PCs. Furthermore they maintain that the party's future success depends on its re- inventing itself to get in step with modern conservative thinking. They claim that the party requires a new leader with new ideas. They fear that Clark will return the party to the past, and it will be left there to flounder. To them, it is the past that is the party's nemesis. Where do the fortunes of the Progressive Conservative Party lie—in the past, in the present, in the future, or in some unique combination of all three? Present Tense As a class, discuss the implications of the phrase "back to the future" as it applies to any leader of any group or organization. Past Tense As you watch this News In Review report, make brief notes in which you document Joe Clark's long and varied career with the Progressive Conservative Party. What seems to be his greatest contribution and legacy? Is his past his nemesis or his salvation? Future Tense With reference to what you have seen in the video, formulate answers to the following questions. 1. What have been Joe Clark's contributions to politics? How have his contributions in the past shaped and defined his leadership style and the fortunes of the Progressive Conservative Party? 2. In your opinion, what has emerged from the leadership campaign as Clark's real challenge? 3. What role does Preston Manning play in Joe Clark's political future? 4. To what extent and in what ways will Clark, like Marty McFly, have to come to terms with the past in order to have a political future? Introduction Back to the Future An Experiment in Democracy Why Joe? A Glorious History The United Alternative Discussion, Research, and Essay Questions Indicates material appropriate or adaptable for younger viewers. THE RETURN OF JOE CLARK: NEW HOPE FOR CONSERVATIVES? An Experiment in Democracy When the Progressive Conservative Party was reduced to only two seats in the 1993 federal election, some party insiders and other observers blamed both then leader Kim Campbell and the leadership selection process that chose her. In their view, Campbell was not the choice of the grassroots membership. They believed her selection as leader was a result of systemic flaws in the old-style political party convention system. Some saw Campbell as the leader of choice of the party hierarchy only and the product of an antiquated convention system that favoured backroom deals and secretive meetings. They did not consider her the choice of the core of the party members— the party faithful—who live throughout Canada. Many in the party felt that this mistake must be avoided in the future and advocated that the selection process needed to be democratized to permit greater membership participation at the local riding level. The Party Convention System In the past the Progressive Conservative Party selected a leader by the party convention system, a process that most mainstream political parties traditionally have followed. In a typical leadership convention, which is the culmination of an election-like campaign, the leader is selected over the course of one day by party delegates at a national convention. These delegates have been selected by their local riding associations to attend the convention on their behalf. This process is considered by many to be a good blend of direct and representative democracy. Direct democracy is practised at the local level at the delegate selection meetings. At these meetings, local party members have an opportunity to seek delegate status as well as have input into the selection of delegates to attend the convention. Representative democracy prevails at the convention. Each delegate votes after considering the views of the local riding members. The delegate tries to represent these views as best they can. The Party Membership System The new selection process used by the Progressive Conservatives in 1998 was an attempt to accentuate and strengthen the direct democracy aspects already in place. The custom of delegates representing party members was discontinued, and all local riding party members—provided they purchased a party membership before September 29 —were given a vote. This was not the first time, however, that this kind of selection process has been used.
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