Progressive Conservative Party was Canada’s oldest national political party until 2003, when it merged with the Canadian Alliance to form the Conservative Party of Canada. Until 1942, its name was simply the Conservative Party. In general, the Conservatives favored tax reform, elimination of the national debt, and tight controls on government spending. Business and professional interests traditionally supported the party.
The Conservative Party originated in the 1850’s. It grew out of an alliance of conservatives, reformers, and moderates who favored the confederation of British colonies in North America. John A. Macdonald of Upper Canada (later Ontario) was the party’s first leader.
After confederation in 1867, the Conservatives gained control of the new country’s government. Except for a period of Liberal Party control from 1873 to 1878, the Conservatives held power until 1896. Macdonald served as prime minister from 1867 to 1873 and from 1878 until his death in 1891. Under him, Canada’s first transcontinental railroad was built. Macdonald also supported high tariffs in an effort to boost Canadian manufacturing.
The Conservatives lost power to the Liberals in 1896, but they regained control of the government in 1911, when Robert L. Borden became prime minister. In 1917, during World War I, Borden’s government began to conscript (draft) men for military service. Conscription was highly unpopular in the French-speaking parts of Canada. It cost the Conservatives support in those areas for many years. Borden resigned as prime minister in 1920. Except for three months of Conservative control in 1926, the Liberals held power from 1921 to 1930.
Richard B. Bennett led the Conservatives to victory in 1930. He failed to strengthen the Canadian economy during the Great Depression. But his government established Canada’s central bank and the nation’s publicly owned broadcasting system. The Liberals defeated the Conservatives in the election of 1935.
The Conservative Party changed its name to the Progressive Conservative Party in 1942. The renamed party did not win a national election until 1957, when John G. Diefenbaker was party leader. As prime minister, Diefenbaker refused to accept atomic warheads for defense missiles supplied to Canada by the United States. He also failed to curb high unemployment in Canada. The Conservatives were voted out of office in 1963.
Brian Mulroney led the party to an overwhelming victory in 1984. His efforts to amend Canada’s constitution to satisfy Quebec nationalists failed, and many of his economic proposals proved unpopular. But he signed a free-trade agreement with the United States in 1988.
Mulroney resigned in early 1993. The Conservatives won only two legislative seats in an election later that year. After 1993, the party never won more than a handful of seats. In December 2003, party members voted to merge with the Canadian Alliance and form the Conservative Party of Canada. Although the national Progressive Conservative Party ceased to exist, parties of the same name continued to operate at the provincial level.
