Red Tory

Red Tory is a nickname given to a political tradition in Canada's conservative political parties. Red Tories were traditionally to the left of the rest of the party. Originally it referred to the branch of the Tory party that was committed to the welfare state. Modern Red Tories, however, define themselves as "fiscally conservative and socially progressive". The term Blue Tory has been coined to describe more right wing Canadian conservatives.

Dominance

The Red Tories historically served as the most powerful faction within the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, though its electoral success has been mixed. Most of the party's leaders have been labeled Red Tories, including Sir John A. Macdonald, John Diefenbaker, Robert Stanfield, and Joe Clark.

Related Topics:
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada - Sir John A. Macdonald - John Diefenbaker - Robert Stanfield - Joe Clark

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The heartland of Red Toryism was the Maritimes and Ontario and Red Tories dominated the provincial politics of these regions. The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party has held power in that province for most of the time since Confederation. The Ontario PCs were often labelled Red Tory, for example under the leadership of William Davis from 1971 to 1985. Under Davis, the Tories often ran to the left of the Ontario Liberal Party. Some political commentators have suggested that the new leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, John Tory, is in the mould of the Bill Davis Red Tory tradition.

Related Topics:
Ontario Progressive Conservative Party - Ontario - William Davis - 1971 - 1985 - Ontario Liberal Party - John Tory

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Throughout the Maritimes, Red Tories are the dominant force in the Conservative Party. This tends to explain why Canadian provinces are often ruled at the provincial level by a party that may be Conservative yet at the same time elect Liberal Members of Parliament to the Canadian House of Commons. Outsiders may not understand the large amount of ideological common ground shared by the two nominally different parties.

Related Topics:
Maritimes - Canadian House of Commons

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