The logo of the proposed party
Following the election of Jim Prentice as Progressive Conservative leader, the very future of the conservative movement relied on the proposed merger vote by PC Party members. While the Reformers passed their referendum near unanimously, there were questions about whether the PCs would. Leadership finalist Scott Brison continued to threaten to cross the floor to the Liberals (which would bring them ever-closer to a majority government). Former Prime Minister Joe Clark announced his opposition, along with several PC Senators and innumerable provincial politicians.
The Yes Campaign: Led by Jim Prentice and Elsie Wayne, with support from some Red Tories like Greg Thompson and Peter MacKay, the yes campaign seeks to merge the Progressive Conservatives and Reform into the United Alternative. It's frequently noted by the Yes campaign that Reform agreed to allow PCs to keep socially liberal views and vote their conscience in parliament, even if it goes against the united party's platform. They also note that two right-of-center parties make dethroning the Liberal Party nearly impossible.
The No Campaign: Led by Scott Brison and Joe Clark, with support from conservatives like David Orchard and many senators, the No campaign fears that a united party would be too far to the right, move the party's base too far west and leave the Liberals virtually unopposed in Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Canada, that a united party would shame socially liberal MPs into voting the party line, and would leave centrists with no choice but the Liberals.
Two days, then we're on to the election of 2002!