Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

A Canadian federal political party that governed under Brian Mulroney from 1984 to 1993. Its seats fell from 169 to two in the 1993 election, leading to its eventual merger with the Canadian Alliance.

Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942): The principal name of Canada’s federal conservative party before its 1942 reorganization as the Progressive Conservative Party. The Progressive Conservatives inherited the earlier party’s organization and much of its political tradition.
John Diefenbaker: Progressive Conservative prime minister of Canada from 1957 to 1963, known for his populist appeal and rights advocacy. His leadership brought the party a major breakthrough in western Canada.
Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement: A 1988 trade agreement that removed many barriers to trade between Canada and the United States. Mulroney made the agreement a defining policy, winning reelection after a divisive campaign.
Canadian federal election, 1993: The federal election in which the Progressive Conservatives fell from 169 seats to two. This defeat ended the party’s governing era and made its collapse a defining political event.
John A. Macdonald: Canada’s first prime minister, who led the federal Conservative Party for much of its early history. His governments established the party’s early national organization and governing legacy.
Robert Stanfield: Progressive Conservative leader from 1967 to 1976 and premier of Nova Scotia from 1956 to 1967. He rebuilt the party after Diefenbaker and came close to defeating the Liberals.
Goods and Services Tax: A Canadian federal value-added tax introduced in 1991 to replace the manufacturers’ sales tax. Its unpopularity contributed to the erosion of Progressive Conservative support.
Bloc Québécois: A federal political party that advocates Quebec sovereignty and contests seats in Quebec. It became the Official Opposition in 1993 as former Progressive Conservative support in Quebec fragmented.
Robert Borden: Canadian prime minister from 1911 to 1920 who led the Union government during the First World War. His wartime coalition and party realignment formed part of the Conservatives’ path toward reorganization.
Joe Clark: Progressive Conservative leader who served briefly as Canada’s prime minister in 1979–1980. His minority government was the party’s last before Mulroney’s long majority era.

Linked from 6 pages