This past weekend, Conservatives from across the country met in Ottawa for the Conservative Convention, 2011. St. Paul’s was represented at the convention with a full contingent of 10 elected delegates. Each day, Sim Brigden, one of our delegates, gave us his impressions of the event. Excerpts from his emails are provided below.

Day One

Minister John Baird opened the speeches. He gave a rousing speech extolling the virtues of our party without getting himself into too much trouble.

Senator Pamela Wallin and Minister Steven Blaney then kicked things off as MCs.

When was the last time you heard a politician talk about conservative values? Jason Kenney gave an impassioned speech focusing on how the Conservative party did not just win a seat in every province or in both Territories. The real story was that Conservatives have increased their vote in a record four elections in a row. Conservatives went from having 20% of the immigrant/New Canadian vote to have over 60%. This made the difference in riding after riding. This was supposed to be Liberal-owned territory. We showed that Conservative values resonate with New Canadians.

Stockwell Day followed with very insightful descriptions of the realities of Conservatism vis-à-vis the debate with the now, true, Socialists. He pointed out that socialist Provinces always lowered the standard and quality of life of those under their jurisdictions. The NDP strategy is to find someone who is suffering and use that one person to say that the whole system is at fault. The problem is that you don’t take care of one person by making everyone suffer.

Since we’ve been in government, Canada was the first country to rush to China, Haiti, and to not support Hamas. At the G8, 20 world leaders made a pledge to reduce their deficits by 2013. This was achieved through Canada’s leadership.

The media: we have freedom of speech and freedom of the media. With great freedom comes great responsibility. The media need to stop the personal attacks. This also goes to reports of our troops’ misbehaviours. These reports were proven time and time again to be false. Media has been lopsided.

11,000 women passed literacy tests in Afghanistan. A further 6,000 children were vaccinated for Polio. These efforts due largely to Canadian troop presence went completely unreported.

The press has a long way to go.

In short, Stockwell Day gave a wonderful and impassioned speech culminating with a protracted standing ovation.

Peter MacKay followed by presenting Minister Day with a flag flown over Khandahar airfield. The evening closed with an introduction of former Candidates and past Tories such as Chuck Strahl.

Day Two

The schedule is packed, PACKED!

Firstly, quotes from our Delegates:

Megan Patterson:

• Important decisions are being made in the policy meetings
• This is a great opportunity to meet people
• The energy level (post election) is still high and will carry over to the provincial election

Benjamin Sharma:

• There has been a lot of passionate debate among friends vis-à-vis constitutional direction
• Economic resolutions were surprisingly good
• Everyone is so happy – a truly positive mood

Richard Tattersall:

• People are in a celebratory mood
• It is an inherently friendly atmosphere: Megan talked to a 70 year old guy from Sask. I met an entrepreneur from Winnipeg
• I talked with Senator di Nino who reminisced about starting life in a house shared by three families
• Chris Alexander, M.P. grew up on Hillsdale (St Paul’s) and went to Oriole Park Public School with me
• Debate over the leadership format – one member – one vote – appears to be being beaten back.

Now, on to my report:

They are all here. I’m sitting with Monte Solberg listening to Preston Manning while looking out of the beautiful new Convention Centre at the Canadian Flag flying over our parliament buildings.

This morning, I ran around between various policy workshops.

There are three major ones:

Economic development

This workshop involved (as do they all) the passing of various motions with regards to economic policy. A lot of weight was focused on the north. Exploration, protection and sovereignty.

Canada’s social fabric

This was pretty light, in comparison to the other tracks. Changes here were focused mostly on Electoral reform, Tax reform/relief and crime – mostly tweaks to the existing policy.

Constitution

This heavy, thick volume of motions encompassed so much that I can’t really do it justice. Suffice to say that, for you policy wonks, it was full of fun and excitement. There were two contentious issues which stuck out:

1. One member, one vote vs. Riding weight. In other words, should Conservatives vote as individuals on internal party policy or should the ridings carry the weight of determinations? The concern is that a group of individuals could take over the direction of the Party without regional representation.
2. Youth Wing: Peter van Loan and others argue that, without the OPCYA, they would never have become involved (Provincially). The counter argument (the stronger one) is that we don’t need our youth to be treated separately.

Later tonight, we will have the Leader’s speech.

Tah-toh from the convention floor for now.

Sim

Day Three

“Our party’s great purpose is nothing less than to prepare our nation to shoulder a bigger load, in a world that will require it of us.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper in last night’s speech.

Great news! I shared a quick breakfast bite with Peter Kent. I thanked him on behalf of St. Paul’s for working so hard to lay the foundation for Maureen’s impressive showing. He was, as always, very gracious and sends his regards to all of you, his friends in St. Paul’s.

I told him that Maureen Harquail had moved the yardsticks even further this go-round. On a similar note, to wrap up last night, I was at the Ottawa Arts Centre for some Tory hoop-lah. While I saw many old friends, it was great to meet many new ones. There was also a photo op with Prime Minister Harper. Upon introducing myself as being from St. Paul’s our Prime Minister re-iterated his disappointment with the result. He is obviously very eager to see blue in our section of the electoral map.

Following all the glad-handing, a large crowd of Tories from across this great land cheered in unison as the Canucks took care of the Boston Bruins. Going into the event and feeling the great energy was one thing. Coming out with yet another feeling of victory really made me feel on top of the world!

We are now in the winding down phase of the Convention. After a presentation on the state of our finances by Conservative Fund Chair Irving Gerstein, the Maple Leaf awards were given out. There were some very touching moments. One candidate ran while his wife fought and lost her battle with cancer. Many other members and party faithful were lauded for their long hours and tireless efforts.

From there, we went on to do the final voting on various resolutions. This was a grand gathering of everyone in the hall. We defeated a very contentious motion to have one member one vote as

opposed to riding by riding votes. This defeat ensures riding equality in the voting process of the Party.

At lunch, I had occasion to chat with Co-MC Pamela Wallin. She was very pleased with how congenial the proceedings were.

One thing that really struck me is this: back when Prime Minister Mulroney won, it was, in a large part, because Canadians were “throwing the Liberal bums out”. This go-round, Canadians elected a Strong Stable National Majority Conservative Government because there were voting us in.

We have earned this victory. We have earned the confidence of Canadians and we have earned the right to govern.

The Convention closed with a quintet of MP’s singing the National Anthem. Everyone dissipated to the four winds as we all went back to our respective ridings.

Maureen’s campaign launch began with a bang with the arrival of Jim Flaherty, Canada’s Finance Minister. This was an unprecedented launch for St. Paul’s, with both local and national media coverage. It was standing room only!

In his speech, Flaherty endorsed Maureen’s candidacy. To see a video of his comments click here.

You can also view pictures of the launch, as well as information about Maureen’s campaign, on her website at maureenharquail.org

Campaign Office

Maureen’s campaign office is located at:

1421 Yonge Street, Toronto (east side of Yonge Street, just south of St. Clair)

Phone: 416-925-8228

But we won’t be able to elect Maureen without your help. So why not join our team?

We need volunteers to help with canvassing, putting up signs, manning the campaign office, telephoning, distributing campaign literature, getting out the vote or scrutineering on election day, etc.  If you can help, please contact the campaign team at stpaulsconservative@gmail.com indicating your preferred activities and the times you are available. Someone will contact you.

Of course it also costs money to run a winning campaign. To support Maureen Harquail’s campaign financially, please make your cheque payable to:

“Ron Goldstein, Official Agent” (campaign contributions may only be accepted during the campaign writ period – up to May 2, 2011)

After May 2, 2011, cheques should be made payable to: “St. Paul’s Conservative EDA”

Please mail your cheque to:

Suite #995
7-B Pleasant Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario
M4T 1K2

Tax credits for political donations are very generous. The chart below shows how your donation costs qualify you for a tax credit:

The refund (or reduction in tax payable) depends only on the amount donated and not on taxable income. One only needs to file a tax return in order to receive it.

For information on contribution limits, please click here.

Finally, to order a sign for your residence, please contact stpaulsconservative@gmail.com.

Together we can make a difference. It is time to send a Conservative to Ottawa to represent the people of St. Paul’s. Let’s all do our part to elect Maureen Harquail as our Member of Parliament.

MAUREEN HARQUAIL CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE FOR THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION

St. Paul’s Conservative Electoral District Association (“EDA”) candidate brings extensive experience in environmental law and is fluently bilingual

TORONTO,  March 23, 2011 — The St. Paul’s EDA is pleased to announce that Maureen Harquail will represent the Conservative Party as its candidate in the next federal election.

Maureen Harquail is a lawyer with extensive experience in the field of environmental law. She acted as a Federal Environmental Prosecutor with the Department of Justice and also acted for the Alberta Ministry of Environment.  Maureen currently serves as General Counsel with the Ontario Racing Commission. She is keenly aware and has a deep understanding of issues facing Canada’s Armed Forces based on her past experience as a member of the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve.  Ms. Harquail is also fluently bilingual.

“Public service is a tradition in my family” explained Harquail.  “I am excited to be the Conservative candidate in the next federal election.  I look forward to combining my personal understanding of key issues, such as the economy and the environment, with the views of the people of St. Paul’s.”

Ms. Harquail was raised in Toronto and attended the University of Toronto.  She then graduated from the University of Wales, Cardiff Law School in the United Kingdom.

Maureen serves as President of the Loretto Alumnae Association and has also served as Chair of the North York/Scarborough Branch Advisory Committee for the Ontario SPCA.

For further information:

Tamara Gottleib, Maureen Harquail Campaign
tamaragottlieb@yahoo.ca
maureenharquail.org

Maureen Harquail candidate au Parti conservateur aux prochaines élections fédérales

La candidate conservateur de l’Association de la circonscription électoral de St. Paul’s apporte une vaste expérience dans le domaine du droit de l’environnement et elle est aussi bilingue.

TORONTO, (23 mars 2011) – L’Association de la circonscription électorale de St.Paul’s est heureuse de vous faire part de la candidature de Maureen Harquail au titre de représentante du Parti conservateur aux prochaines élections fédérales.

Maureen Harquail, avocate expérimentée dans le domaine du droit environnemental a exercé les fonctions de procureur au Ministère de la Justice du Canada et au Ministère de l’Environnement de la province de l’Alberta. Présentement, Maureen exerce les fonctions de conseiller juridique en chef à la Commission des courses de chevaux de l’Ontario.

Etant donné son expérience antérieure au service de la Réserve navale des Forces canadiennes, elle est vivement renseignée et comprend profondément les questions que les Forces armées du Canada ont à affronter.  Elle est aussi bilingue.

“Dévouement à la cause publique” est une tradition familiale explique-t’elle.  Je suis stimulée d’être la candidate conservateur aux prochaines élections fédérales.  J’envisage avec plaisir la perspective de cumuler ma compréhension des questions clés, comme l’économie et l’environnement, avec les opinions des citoyens de la circonscription de St. Paul’s.

Maureen a été élevée à Toronto et a fréquenté l’Université de Toronto.  Par la suite, elle a reçu un diplôme de l’Université du Pays de Galles, Faculté de droit Cardiff, Royaume Uni.

Maureen exerce les fonctions de présidente de l’Association amicale des anciens du Collège Loretto Abbey.  Elle a également présidé au comité consultatif de la région North York/Scarborough de la Société protectrice des animaux de l’Ontario.

Veuillez communiquer avec:
Tamara Gottleib, La campagne de Maureen Harquail
tamaragottlieb@yahoo.ca
maureenharquail.org

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Walsh was raised in Brantford, Ontario.  He is a corporate lawyer in Toronto and has been a longtime party activist.

“I am honoured to have been elected by my fellow councilors and look forward to this new challenge,” says Walsh.  ”Our Council will continue to work together to strengthen our great Party and serve our members.”

TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2009

The St. Paul’s Federal Conservatives have added a combination of youth and experience, and a woman with a compelling drive to serve her local community, to the Conservative Party of Canada team for the next federal election.

On Wednesday, the St. Paul’s Conservative Electoral District Association announced that Christina Perreault is their acclaimed candidate. Perreault is no stranger to politics in St. Paul’s having served as the candidate canvass coordinator for Peter Kent, who ran in St. Paul’s in 2005-2006, as well as serving as the current Vice President of the St. Paul’s Conservative EDA.

Her interest in politics began as a young school-aged volunteer canvassing for her uncle who ran for the Conservatives in Nova Scotia. Since then she has volunteered on numerous election campaigns at both the federal and provincial levels.

“St. Paul’s holds great sentimental value for me,” said Perreault, “I was raised in this community, I went to school in St. Paul’s and I cast my first vote as an elector in this riding. I feel privileged to be the Conservative Party candidate in a riding that has such a rich political history and has been represented by some very notable parliamentarians”.

When asked what drives her to seek office, Perreault said, “I firmly believe it is more important than ever to get involved directly in the decisions that will affect the future of our country, our city and this riding. I hope that in seeking office, I serve as a reminder to other young professionals to engage themselves in politics and help determine future direction of our country. It is critical that the leaders of today understand the issues that will impact future generations. I’m proud to stand with our Prime Minister to ensure this country continues to move forward with positive results while addressing the issues that Canadians care about.”

Christina has a proud history of serving her local community. While studying political science at McGill University, she co-founded and was President of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research Club at McGill (CANFAR @ McGill), a charity organization dedicated to raising funds for the fight against AIDS. CANFAR @ McGill was the first CANFAR club in Canada and in its first year was formally recognized by the university for its outstanding fundraising abilities. CANFAR remains an important organization at McGill and has been a model for similar clubs in universities across Canada. In 2008, Metro Newspaper recognized Christina for these accomplishments. As one of the founders of The Frocktail Party, an event which aims to raise awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Christina continues to dedicate her time to supporting those in need.

Christina is currently Issues Manager at the Ontario Medical Association, the professional organization which represents Ontario’s 25,000 doctors. In her role, Christina has worked on many initiatives to ensure the Government of Ontario takes action to improve our health care system for Ontario’s patients.

Following graduation from McGill, Christina moved to Paris, France where she continued her studies in French linguistics and French civilization at the Sorbonne University. While working full-time at the OMA, Christina attended Ryerson University to receive her post-graduate designation in Public Relations. Christina is also an alumna of Bishop Strachan School.

“St. Paul’s deserves a strong voice in the Government benches in Ottawa,” said Perreault. “Simply put, we need representation in Government that offers solutions for our community. I look forward to meeting members of our community and listening to their concerns in the weeks ahead.”

The policy declaration was amended by the delegates to the National Convention on November 15, 2008.

Delegates from St. Paul’s submitted a proposal for a single, national securities regulator.   This proposal came from our grassroots policy workshop.  The proposal was accepted by the delegates at the National Convention and can now be found in official policy declaration.

The policy declaration is also available for download here.  You can also find it located on the Conservative Party of Canada website.

Executive Officers

• President – Sarah Schroeder
• Vice President – Christina Perreault
• Vice President, Election Readiness – Therese Culnan
• Vice President, Fundraising – Ori Rubin
• Vice President, Policy – Dr. Jeff Rabin
• Registered Agent – Ron Goldstein
• Secretary – Steven Gurfinkel

Directors

• Allen Berg
• Bernie Morton
• Deborah Lewis
• Diane Gee
• George MacDonell
• Jack Gurfinkel
• John Adams
• John P. Kennedy
• Jonathan Colford
• Kevin Weiner
• Lillyann Goldstein
• Marnie Silver
• Matt Power
• Megan Patterson
• Michael T. Collis
• Mimi Allemand
• Richard Tattersall
• Sandra Broudy
• Sim Brigden
• Steve Blackburn
• Steve Jelly
• Susan Hornsby
• Tim Bulmer

Stephen Harper and the Conservatives promised strong, certain leadership to protect Canada’s future in a time of unprecedented turmoil.

Canadians passed judgment on Stephen Harper when they awarded the Conservative Party a strengthened mandate.

In the same election Stéphane Dion and the Liberals promised a massive new carbon tax that would strangle Canada’s economy.

Canadians passed judgment on the Stéphane Dion and the Liberals who received their lowest public support since Confederation.

In the same election voters passed judgment on Jack Layton and the NDP who once again peddled and outdated socialist ideology and put thousands of jobs at risk by driving up taxes by tens of billions of dollars.

Canadians passed judgment on Jack Layton and the NDP who were relegated to a distant fourth in the House of Commons.

Voters offered no mandate to Stéphane Dion and the Liberals to govern the country.  They offered no mandate to Jack Layton and the NDP to influence the economy.

Voters offered no mandate for the Liberals and NDP to form a coalition government – and in fact, the Liberals ran against such an arrangement.

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