The Progressive Canadian Party (PC Party) () was a minor federal political party in Canada. A centre to centre-right party, it was registered with Elections Canada, the government's election agency, on March 29, 2004.

Under provisions of the Canada Elections Act that took effect on May 14, 2004, parties were only required to nominate one candidate in order to qualify for official party status in the June 28, 2004, federal election. This meant that Progressive Canadian Party candidates were listed on the ballot alongside the party's name, rather than being designated as independents.

The party was deregistered by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on November 30, 2019, for failing to comply with Canada Elections Act requirements set out in subsection 415(1).

Founding and 2004 election

Following the dissolution of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and its merger with the Canadian Alliance into the new Conservative Party of Canada, the Progressive Canadian Party was formed by "Red Tories" who opposed the merger. On January 9, 2004, the party filed an application with the Chief Electoral Officer to become a registered party called the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. The application was refused on the grounds that the name could no longer be utilized. The group resubmitted with the name Progressive Canadian Party, and a new "PC Party" was recognized by Elections Canada on March 26. One of the organizers, Joe Hueglin, was a former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) from Niagara Falls, Ontario.

In announcing the new party, Hueglin stated that the party had about a dozen potential candidates and a mailing list of 330 names. The party nominated 16 candidates for the 2004 general election, mostly in southern Ontario and Nova Scotia.

The party held a national convention in 2005 to select a leader and to develop policies. It has also established the "Macdonald-Cartier PC Fund" to raise money for the party, under the direction of Sinclair Stevens, a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney.

On November 17, 2005, the Federal Court of Appeal rejected Stevens' lawsuit to force Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley to rescind recognition of the merger of the Progressive Conservative Party with the Canadian Alliance. The court did rule, however, that Kingsley erred in not waiting 30 days to register the merger. Stevens appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada, but that court announced on April 27, 2006, that it would not hear the appeal. The court gave no reason for its decision.

2006 election

Founding party leader Ernie Schreiber resigned in 2005 because of a heart condition. The party appointed Tracy Parsons as his successor. The party nominated 25 candidates for the 2006 federal election. Former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister and leadership candidate Heward Grafftey stood as a candidate for the party during that election. (See also: Progressive Canadian Party candidates, 2006 Canadian federal election.)

2011 election

RidingProvinceCandidateVotes%PlacementMacleodAlbertaBrad Carrigan 1754 3.40 5/6South Surrey—White Rock—CloverdaleBritish ColumbiaBrian Marlatt 228 0.39 7/9Vancouver CentreBritish ColumbiaMichael Huenefeld 285 0.48 6/8West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky CountryBritish ColumbiaRoger Lagassé 293 0.47 5/9Hamilton East—Stoney CreekOntarioGord Hill 468 0.96 5/9Newmarket—AuroraOntarioDorian Baxter 998 1.71 5/6Oak Ridges—MarkhamOntarioJohn Siciliano 1080 1.19 5/5Ottawa SouthOntarioAl Gullon 513 0.87 5/6Prince Edward—HastingsOntarioAndrew Skinner 171 0.31 6/6

2015 election

In the 2015 election, the party ran eight candidates, none of whom were elected with five getting the fewest votes in their riding.

RidingProvinceCandidateVotes%PlacementEtobicoke CentreOntarioRob Wolvin 378 0.6 5/5Newmarket—AuroraOntarioDorian Baxter 762 1.3 5/5Ottawa SouthOntarioAl Gullon 361 0.6 5/7Toronto—DanforthOntarioJohn Richardson 1,275 2.3 5/6Calgary SkyviewAlbertaNajeeb Butt 957 2.1 4/9Prince George—Peace River—Northern RockiesBritish ColumbiaBarry Blackman 464 0.9 5/5South Surrey-White RockBritish ColumbiaBrian Marlatt 108 0.2 5/5Vancouver SouthBritish ColumbiaRaj Gupta 167 0.3 6/6

Platform and goals

The party aimed to be the successor to the former Progressive Conservative Party. A few prominent figures were associated with this new party (Stevens and Heward Grafftey). David Orchard, a fervent opponent of the merger of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and the Canadian Alliance, made no official statement about the new party. During the 2006 election, Orchard endorsed and later joined the Liberal Party.

The party adopted the last policy platform of the Progressive Conservative party; they also began to create new policies for Canada to meet new situations and challenges. These platforms included (but were not limited to): support of the Canadian Wheat Board, support for small business, belief in a single-tier health-care system, the promise of eliminating student debt, and a foreign policy that emphasizes Canada's dual role of peace-keepers and diplomats. The new party's official logo and initials were an homage to the Progressive Conservative Party, from where the party claims to draw its history, policy, and constitution.

Seven Pillars for Prosperity According to the party's website, the Progressive Canadian Party had "seven pillars for bringing prosperity to Canada". These seven pillars are: "Facilitating post-secondary education" "Realizing growth opportunities" "Harnessing renewable resources" "Meeting differing needs" "Serving the world" "Allying for peace and stability" "Bringing new hope"

Election results Election # of candidates # of votes % of popular vote % of popular vote in ridings with PC candidates 2004 16 10,733 0.08% 1.402% 2006 25 14,151 0.10% 1.079% 2008 10 5,920 0.04% 1.188% 2011 9 5,790 0.04% 1.067% 2015 8 4,476 0.03% 1.027% 2019 3 1,534 0.01% 0.825%

Eligibility: March 29, 2004 Short-form name: PC Party Party leader: Hon. Sinclair Stevens, P.C. President: Dorian Baxter National co-ordinator: Joe Hueglin Chief agent: Macdonald Cartier PC Fund Auditor: Ben Seto, C.A.

By-Election candidate # of votes % of popular vote place Winner London North Centre Steve Hunter 146 0.38% 5/7 Glen Pearson (Lib) Vaughan Dorian Baxter 110 0.28% 7/8 Julian Fantino (Con) Toronto-Danforth Dorian Baxter 208 0.64% 5/11 Craig Scott (NDP) Toronto Centre Dorian Baxter 453 1.30% 5/11 Chrystia Freeland (Lib) Markham-Thornhill Dorian Baxter 566 2.90% 4/7 Mary Ng (Lib) South Surrey—White Rock Michael Huenefeld 86 0.28% 7/7 Gordie Hogg (Lib) York-Simcoe Dorian Baxter 634 3.80% 4/9 Scot Davidson (Con) Nanaimo—Ladysmith Brian Marlett 248 0.61% 6/7 Paul Manly (Green)

PC Party leaders

Name Term start Term end Notes Ernie Schreiber 2004 2005 First leader Tracy Parsons 2005 2007 Sinclair Stevens 2007 2016 Interim leader Joe Hueglin 2016 2019 Interim leader

See also List of political parties in Canada Red Tory Canadian Future Party

References

External links Progressive Canadian Party – Canadian Political Parties and Political Interest Groups - Web Archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries