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Home | Canadian political party | Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
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It originated from the Confederation Party of Charles Tupper. Tupper united members of the pre-Confederation Conservative Party (who were predominantly United Empire Loyalists and members of the business elite) and supporters of Sir John A. Macdonald's national Conservative coalition. The party supported Macdonald's protectionist National Policy, nation-building, and the unification of British North America. Canadian confederation was initially unpopular in Nova Scotia, and the party was out of government for most of the late 19th century. It only formed government for a few of the years between 1867 and 1956. The modern party was built by Robert Stanfield after World War II. Stanfield, the scion of a wealthy textile family, considered himself a socialist at university and, while he later moderated his views, he always remained a progressive. Under his leadership, what was by then the "Progressive Conservative Party" became a moderate Red Tory organization. Stanfield took over the party in 1948 when it had no seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and by 1956, had built it into an organization that was able to sweep to power. Stanfield left to become leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party in 1967, but the Tories have remained the dominant party in Nova Scotia since then. The party has formed the government for more than twice as many years as the Liberals since 1956. Rodney MacDonald lead the party in the provincial House of Assembly with 10 out of 52 seats. On June 24, 2009, Rodney MacDonald stepped down as leader. Karen Casey was named the interim leader. |
