Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 24, 1996, Winnipeg, Manitoba A8 saturday free August tories see Glimmer of Hope it wont be but reconstruction already Well under Way delegates by Paul Samyn legislature reporter Marjorie Nielsen remembers exactly How she Felt when the tories fell from Grace on that fateful october night nearly three years but shed rather not see those feel Ings described in a family you print Nielsen said yesterday As she handed out buttons at the progressive conservative National policy Nielsen also recalls what was going through her mind a year ago when everyone seemed to be saying that a marriage with Reform party was the Only Way the tories would i didst get worried because i knew they were she we have been around for 130 years and something like that Doest disappear Over As this tory foot Soldier looks for Ward to the next Federal she sees optimism on a horizon that seemed filled with gloom not All that Long she insists this is a new party with a new Leader and approach that lets people like her have a Nielsen will help the tories make a new Start in a new rid Oak ridges just North of Toron make no the tories Are still very much in the political Hinter they Only have two seats in Parlia party Headquarters that used to Bustle with 110 staff now scrape by with and if the National polls Are to be the Public still what kind of sees the tories As grabbing about 12 per cent of but while the More than Dele Gates at the Winnipeg convention Cen tre will never forget its also fair to say Treyve moved Forward from that compared to where we were in october of we Are in fabulous said Charlie the former Federal agriculture minister who lost his Lisgar Marquette seat to its amazing that a party that has Only two maps can get Well Over people out to this but in the next Mayer is Quick to concede the party has a Long Way to go before it will be in the condition it was five years former prime minister Joe Clark said the electoral kicking the tories took in 1993 was a symptom of a larger and More significant internal it want the fall to two it was the disconnection Between the leadership and the Clark Clark said this disconnection is something that eventually hits All governments As they tend to focus More on governing than the wishes of the Clark said party Leader Jean Charest has done a masterful Job of reconnecting with the party membership and putting an end to All of the sulking Toronto Delegate Sam Singh was one of those party members the Phil free press Nielsen says a movement that has been around 130 years Doest disappear Joe free press former prime minister Clark chats with a convention party left behind during the mul Roney what happened was a Blessing in Singh the defeat made the leaders of the tory party Wake up and Start looking at the policies and the future of the Hugh a senior tory is also wearing a smile these there were times when we had More members in the House and weve been a lot less Segal Segal said the selection of Kim Campbell As Leader contributed to the party woes in my conclusion was that we took a difficult situation and made it worse by choosing the wrong he what would have been a solid defeat became a Segal has since visited roughly 60 constituencies and found that the rid ing associations have their finances in order and organizational Structure Back in and he said he is buoyed by party polling that shows the tories Are now the overwhelming second Choice among Liberal and Reform Tom the tory executive Vic president for said the difference in the party of Charest and that of Mulroney and Campbell is like night and i am satisfied that the party has fundamentally Goodman As Goodman Points to the creation of a National coun cil that includes All the Riding association which has wrestled control from the tight inner Circle that used to run the Goodman said tory Bagman Are having no trouble raising the party debt is Down to million from i am not suggesting All is Rosy but the Issue Here is not where we Are but where we Are going and the fact is that the party is going nowhere but there Are some that the tories Rich history May not be Greg former senior adviser to Premier Gary said he can envision a scenario where the tory party could die if it Doest recapture members who jumped to Reform and Middleon therond canadians enamoured with the As Long As a party thinks it is it is Lyle but if you win Only two seats election after election after something has got to global Trade theres the too by Randy Turner staff reporter t hey they they set they More than Federal progressive conservative delegates swarmed into Winnipeg this week in an Effort to revamp a party on the Leader Jean front and pumped Joe a survivor of the old signed but while Many canadians might rather poke Needles in their eyes than spend a week developing guid ing principles into the next millennia it appears these tories Are like the postal neither rain nor fog nor endless Road construction would keep them from debating everything from global Trade liberalization to pro Viding legislative tools necessary to improve economic relations within Canada while respecting provincial jurisdictional its not All acknowledged Delegate Sean a Toronto its like flying an there Are hours of bore Dom interrupted by moments of genuine that Why its Good theres a great Cigar store across the Ive spent a few hours in speaking of it should be noted that virtually every tory Dele Gate paid his or her own Way to win most spending at least for plane rooms and registration is another conceded that since delegates elected to represent their constituencies paid their own freight it might limit input from Middle class members who cant afford to Jet off to Winnipeg for the some delegates who afford to Fly came four members of the Quebec youth party drove 26 hours straight More than Kilometres to get to the con we left Montreal at 10 tues Day and arrived in Winnipeg at 2 Delegate Camille in still we tried to sleep in the but we it was a we wanted to know if we could do the biggest thing we were afraid of was a hit and run with a Bolte echoed a common refrain heard on the convention floor if i have to live with he i might As Well say a word about the policy because it will be my most pc delegates believe this Winnipeg convention is As crucial to the survival of the country As it is to the one of the reasons were not at a dream level in terms of Public sup port is because people Are what do you stand said Mon Treal Delegate Dominique who co chaired the tories Conven Tion in last that exactly what were doing but just because youre on a mis Sion to save the it Doest mean you cant have a Little that a part of these hav ing dinner and a few Richard a Winnipeg lawyer and longtime you some of the most intelligent conversation will occur in the bar with a Beer in your we get out and have a Good Scott a youth Dele Gate from its not like every time its 30 degrees out Side we sit around talking not All delegates seemed impressed with their visit to Friendly one woman from had no time for an in too Busy taking pills because of All of the Mosquito bites Ive had she Chi Only ache m or fww9 i you Hun your Cheque Ink Ca it september Isa Ami mar to 5 draw your Isth Onty per week Bonus phone today o5j i m i we i or 18005428900 or mail to Winnipeg free press 1355 Mountain Avenue Box sp96 my r2x 3b6 regular procedures apply until Wop customer service contacts you to confirm the Date your account is transferred to current paid office subscribers on 12 month terms can convert to Pac on Call to make Pac applies to All Wop subscribers on All delivery schedules authorization form free press i hereby authorize the Winnipeg free press to charge the then current monthly subscription charge Lor Lewinn Peg Freer monthly from my Bank i enclosed Blank Cheque with my armess and phone number on i have written void the uce of my i agree to notify the Winnipeg free press if i move my n Tor the name address province 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