Democratic Representative Caucus in Canada, 2001-2
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  Democratic Representative Caucus in Canada, 2001-2
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Kevinstat
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« on: January 14, 2004, 11:28:13 PM »
« edited: February 27, 2005, 10:53:17 AM by Peter Bell »

I have been curious about this for quite awhile but, out of sheer lazyness, never got around to asking people here what happened.  When looking at the Elections Canada site awhile ago, I noticed that 8 Canadian Alliance MPs were excluded from the Canadian Alliance caucus on September 12, 2001 (see here ).  I imagine the cause for their exclusion had something to do with the September 11 attacks, but what?  Did the exluded MPs do or say or vote for or against something immediately after the terrorist attacks that was unacceptable to the rest of the party or the party leadership?  Or was it a position, perhaps known, perhaps not, that these MPs held before September 11 that became unacceptable to the caucus after the terrorist attacks?

If their exclusion was based on a position, it couldn't have been a fringe position (unless you see anything to the left of the Canadian Alliance as fringe) since the Progressive Conservative Party agreed to form a coalition with the Democratic Representative Caucus (which, initialy at least, included 8 members, at least 7 of whom were among the 8 excluded members) on September 24, 2001 (see here ).  I doubt the Progressive Conservatives, who seem to be between the Liberals and the CA in regards to policy, would have formed a coalition with these 7 or 8 MPs if they had made outlandish statements or had refused to support a resolution practically everybody supported, like a resolution condemning the attacks.  More likely, these MPs voted for a resolution related to the terrorist attacks which almost everybody outside the Canadian Alliance also voted for but everyone else in the CA caucus voted against.

Moving on, one of the 12 excluded members, Gary Lunn, was "outside the Canadian Alliance caucus as of November 19, 2001."  The page explaining changes of seats since the 2000 Federal General Election doesn't mention this extra step for the other 8 excluded members, nor does it mention either the formation of the Democratic Representative Causus or the coalition it formed with the Progressive Conservatives.  While Gary Lunn has "Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance" (the full name of the Canadian Alliance) next to his name in parentheses whenever his name is mentioned, the other 7 members have other designations mentioned later on, including when they rejoined the Canadian Alliance.  Was Mr. Lunn ever a member of the Democratic Representative Caucus or the PC-DR coalition?  If not, who was the eigth member and what was his/her political designation before joining the caucus or coalition?  If he was a member of the caucus or coalition, when did he leave?  I know he rejoined the Canadian Alliance Caucus on January 22, 2002.  What factors led to the formation of the PC-DR coalition, and what factors led to it's demise on April 10, 2002?

All 7 MPs who left the PC-DR coalition on April 10 became Independent at first, which indicates that the Democratic Representative Caucus was also dead (if it had remained an independent caucus after the merger with the Progressive Conservatives).  4 of them rejoined the Canadian Alliance on April 16, with a fifth joining eight days later.  One of them is still independent, while the last, Inky Mark, joined the Progressive Conservative Party on August 27, 2002.  How were the issues that led to the separation of these MPs from their caucuses resolved?  It could have simply been the elapse of time that allowed the opposing sides to forgive each other and come together again.

I appreciate any information you can give on this, and hope that this thread can lead to a discussion about what happened, it's lingering effects, and what, if anything, it means for the future, especially in light with the possible merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party.

Sincerely,

Kevin Lamoreau

[edited to add "in Canada" to the subject headline]
[edited to clean up urls - PB]
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Filuwaúrdjan
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« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2004, 12:07:00 PM »

I think it was something to do with discontent with Stockwell Day's leadership.
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Canadian observer
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« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2004, 12:48:04 PM »
« Edited: January 15, 2004, 12:49:24 PM by Canadian observer »

The "DRC caucus" short history has nothing to do with the September 11 attack.  That was just an event that happened during that time (Example of another event : On the morning of 9-11-01, Federal public service employees were on strike in Ottawa).

The short-lived split of the Canadian Alliance was related to discontent with Stockwell Day's leadership.  Later in the fall 2001, Day resign and an another leadership contest ensue, which was won by Stephen Harper.  After Harper's victory, most of the renegade CA MP's of the DRC went back to fold.
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Kevinstat
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« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2004, 12:58:56 PM »

Thanks so much for that information, Canadian Observer.  Coincidences like that do happen sometimes.
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