Conservative Party of Canada

colloquially known as the Tories, is a federal political party

in Canada. It was formed in 2003 from the multiple right-wing parties which had existed in Canada for over a century, historically grouped into two camps, "Red Tories" and "Blue Tories". The party sits at the centre-right to the right-wing of the Canadian political spectrum, with the Liberal Party of Canada positioned centre to centre-left. Like their federal Liberal rivals, the party is defined as a "big tent", welcoming a broad variety of members.

The party's leader is Andrew Scheer, who serves as Leader of the Official Opposition until his announcement of resignation on 12 December 2019.

the 1979 federal election, with Joe Clark becoming Prime Minister.

Clark served from 1979 to 1980, when he was defeated by the Liberal Party after the 1980 federal election. In 1984, the Progressive Conservatives won with Brian Mulroney becoming Prime Minister. Mulroney was Prime Minister from 1984 to 1993, and his government was marked by free trade agreements and economic liberalization.

From Confederation till 1942, the original Conservative Party of Canada participated in numerous governments. Before 1942, the predecessors to the Conservatives had multiple names, but by 1942, the main right-wing Canadian force became known as the Progressive Conservatives. In 1957, John Diefenbaker became the first Prime Minister from the Progressive Conservative Party, and remained in office until 1963.

with Joe Clark becoming Prime Minister. Clark served from 1979

to 1980, when he was defeated by the Liberal Party after the 1980 federal election.

Another Progressive Conservative government

Prime Minister.

Mulroney was Prime Minister from 1984 to 1993, and

his government was marked by free trade agreements and economic liberalization.

federal election, thanks to a splintering of the right-wing; the

Conservatives' other predecessor, the Reform Party, led by Preston Manning placed in third, leaving the Progressive Conservatives in fifth.

A similar result occurred in 1997, and in 2000, when the Reform Party became the Canadian Alliance.

forming the Conservative Party of Canada.

The unified Conservative Party claims

to generally favour lower taxes, small government, more transfer of federal government powers to the provinces modeled after the Meech Lake Accord and a tougher stand on "law and order" issues.

The Canadian Alliance

two minority governments after the 2006 federal election and 2008.

It then won a majority government in the 2011 federal election before being defeated in the 2015 federal election by a majority Liberal government.

Ambrose
Term start: 5 November 2015
Term end: 27 May 2017
Andrew Scheer
Term

start: 27 May 2017
Term end: Incumbent

body that is elected by party membership at its bi-annual

meetings. A National Councillor is elected for a two-year term and cannot serve for more than three consecutive terms.
Composition of the National Council is based on the following criteria:

four members from a province with more than 100 seats in the House of Commons
three members from a province with 52–100 seats
two from any province with 26–50 seats
one member from each province with 4–25 seats
one member from each territory
the Party leader
The Chair of the Conservative Fund Canada (in a non-voting role)
the Executive Director (also in a non-voting role).

Ontario; two each from Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec; one

each from the remaining provinces and territories for a total of 19 members, plus the party leader and the two non-voting members for a total 22 members.

2. The party president is elected by National Council following their election. Since 2016, the President of the Conservative Party has been Scott Lamb, a Councillor representing British Columbia. The party President is the conduit between the Party Leader and the National Council.

3. The "founding principles" of the Conservative Party appear in both the constitution and the policy declaration. They are the reasons that the party was formed, and thus the only part of the constitution and policy declaration not up for possible amendment at a national convention.

4. The Conservative Party is governed by a constitution. The constitution may be amended through the same procedure as outlined for "Policy Development" below.

Prairies as well as suburban and rural Ontario.

The party

is strongest particularly in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, where it holds 33 out of 34 and All 14 federal seats respectively. It tends to be weaker in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, particularly Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.