Dalton Camp

The Honourable Dalton Kingsley Camp, PC, OC, M.Sc, LL.D (September 11, 1920 – March 18, 2002) was a Canadian journalist, politician, political strategist and commentator and supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Despite having never been elected to a seat in the House of Commons, he was a prominent and influential politician and a popular commentator for decades. He is a central figure in Red Toryism.

Political Involvement

While involved in studies at UNB, Camp worked briefly for the Liberal Party of Canada and its provincial wing, the New Brunswick Liberal Association. Camp was heavily influenced by his studies at LSE and upon his return to Canada, sought to remove his ties to what he felt was the arrogance of "Canada's Ruling Party". Camp had socialist beliefs but was attracted to the traditions of Canadian conservatism, bringing a new focus to the party, which came to be referred to as Red Toryism. During the 1950s, Camp worked out of Toronto, Ontario with several advertising firms and was influential in his speaking, organizational, and political abilities during several provincial elections which saw Progressive Conservative governments elected for the first time in over a generation. Camp was also instrumental in helping John Diefenbaker's federal Tories win election in 1957 and 1958, however, he personally mistrusted Diefenbaker. Following the PC defeat to Lester Pearson's Liberals, Camp sought to reorganize the Tories and subsequently became president of the national party in 1964.

Related Topics:
Liberal Party of Canada - New Brunswick Liberal Association - Red Tory - 1950s - Toronto, Ontario - Advertising - John Diefenbaker - 1957 - 1958 - Lester Pearson - 1964

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Faced with evidence that a majority of Tories were unhappy with the increasingly eccentric and autocratic policies of their leader John Diefenbaker, Camp eventually led a grassroots upsurgence within the party for a leadership review. After the decision was made to have a leadership convention in 1967, Camp left the presidency of the party and briefly considered campaigning for leadership of the party; however, when Robert Stanfield decided to run, Camp lent his organizational support to Stanfield's campaign. Media savvy and an intellectual, Camp was considered by many Tories to have been a potential match to Pierre Trudeau, who would lead the Liberals throughout the 1970s.

Related Topics:
John Diefenbaker - 1967 - Robert Stanfield - Pierre Trudeau - 1970s

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