Prominent Conservatives look to start new political party
Is Poilievre’s exposed left flank under attack?
As the Conservative Party navigates the challenges posed by Maxime Bernier's People's Party of Canada (PPC) on their right flank, a new political party could be set to enter the fray: Rick Peterson's Centre Ice Canadians. This development, though seemingly minor at first glance, warrants attention, as history has shown that fragmented conservative parties can lead to significant shifts in the political landscape.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada saw its support base splinter into three entities: the Reform Party in the West, the Bloc Quebecois in Quebec, and the remnants of the Progressive Conservatives. The result was a decade of Liberal dominance, as a fractured right struggled to regain its footing. Though the PPC and Centre Ice Canadians currently appear as mere irritants, it is worth remembering that the Reform Party, too, began as a minor disturbance before eventually serving as the Official Opposition.
Peterson, a perennial Conservative Party leadership contender, is in the process of turning his Centre Ice Canadians, formerly known as Centre Ice Conservatives, into a new political party. Assisted by Dominic Cardy, a former provincial cabinet minister and Chief of Staff to New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs, Peterson risks carving out a niche within the conservative spectrum. With even a modest 1 to 2% of the vote in key ridings, this new party could become a thorn in the side of the Conservative Party.
The emergence of the Centre Ice Canadians as a party serves as a reminder that political success often hinges on a united front. As Pierre Poilievre grapples with the populist surge from Bernier's PPC, he must now also address a potential new rival encroaching upon his left flank. The delicate balance between accommodating the more moderate conservatives and maintaining ideological convictions becomes all the more critical in light of these developments.
Seasoned political figures like Dominic Cardy lend credibility to Peterson's new venture, and the Advisory Council, composed of notable conservatives such as Christy Clark, Laurie Hawn, Ann Francis, Majory LeBreton, and Tasha Kheiriddin, could further bolster the Centre Ice Canadians' influence if they all get on board.
Poilievre and the Conservative Party must address the challenges posed by both Bernier's PPC and Peterson's Centre Ice Canadians. As they deftly navigate these potential nuisances and maintain a united front, they can ensure that they remain a cohesive and potent force in Canadian politics for years to come. United conservative parties win, while fragmented ones falter. In this ever-shifting political landscape, the Conservatives must heed the lessons of the past and strive to maintain unity in the face of emerging challenges.
Poilievre has been actively courting the PPC, attempting to win back disaffected voters. It remains to be seen whether he will put the same effort into addressing the other flank, the Centre Ice Canadians, as they emerge as a potential new rival. His response will be crucial in determining the future direction of the Conservative Party and its prospects in future elections.
If this less-right party takes off, only a true centrist party (the "Commonsense and Decency Party", uniting Blue Liberals and Red tories?) would be needed to fill out the Canadian political landscape and imbue our politics with a stronger regression to the central mean
Peterson should just join the LIberals, it's where he belongs.