Mr. Speaker, desperately hoping that Canadians would see their convention as something fresh and new, the Reform strategists behind the Reform dominated convention decided to call it the united alternative.
They want to fool Canadians into believing that a brand new political movement is arising by making superficial changes. They can give Reform another name, another logo and another contrived public image, but it will be the same old Reform Party with the same old name, same old logo and another contrived public image.
The Tory leader is weary of the united alternative for good reason. The opposition leader and the Reform Party are incapable of providing an acceptable alternative because they are intolerant of values and views that do not fit their neo-conservative ideology. Instead of trying to accommodate Canadian voters, Reform strategists are conspiring to eliminate other choices so Canadians will have to vote for them whether they want to or not.
It is a dumb strategy that serves only to highlight Reform's desperation. The only Tories at this convention will be reformatories and that dog won't hunt.