Full Circle: Death and Resurrection in Can

by Bob Plamondon, Robert E. Plamondon

Full Death and Resurrection in Canadian Conservative Politics tells the dramatic story of how the conservative movement fell apart and was restored to glory, looking not much different from two decades previously when Preston Manning and the Reform Party thought they knew better. It chronicles the failures and triumphs of the three leading actors—Preston Manning, Peter MacKay, and Stephen Harper. It recounts the humiliating defeat of the PC party, the rise of the reform, and a decade-long sojourn in the political wilderness. It lays out, step by step, the strokes and counterstrokes, the promises made and broken, the betrayals and defections within a movement riven by faction. Based on meticulous background research and interviews with thirty key players—including Peter MacKay, Preston Manning, David Orchard, Stockwell Day, Don Mazankowski, Jim Prentice, David Angus, Gerry St. Germain, Majory LeBreton, Nöel Kinsella, Elmer MacKay, John Laschinger, Bill Pristanski, John Weissenberger, Geoff Norquay, Rick Morgan, Paul Lepsoe, Tom Jarmyn, and Yaroslav Baran— Full Circle takes the reader behind the scenes in a high-octane exposé of political machination, intrigue, and the ultimate battle for survival and supremacy. Sweeping in its breadth and scope, captivating in its detail, Full Circle is the definitive account of this unprecedented period in Canadian political history. Even those involved in conservative politics will be surprised, and sometimes shocked, by its starling revelations and debunking of popular myths. The death and resurrection of Canada’s conservative political movement over the past two decades is a story that has never been told from beginning to end, until now. Full Circle is breathlessly paced history at its best. “The astonishing story of the crash of conservatism and its rebirth is the subject of Bob Plamondon’s Full Circle. The author comes at it with a unique perspective. Party insiders sometimes do such books. Academics sometimes do them and often it is journalists who take up the challenge. Plamondon provides the advantage of bringing all three perspectives to the table. He has taught at several universities, he was a party insider, having run once for the Tories and worked for the party in elections and leadership conventions… Plamondon’s voyage through the last two decades brings new twists and astute analysis to the narrative.” — From the Foreword by Lawrence Martin “A masterful… enthralling work. This should be read by every Canadian. Or, at least, every Canadian who votes.”— The Calgary Sun “[ Full Circle] provides the first full account of events that led to the 2003 merger of the Progressive Conservative and Alliance parties and the new party`s rise to power in January of this year. Plamondon, a policy consultant and former Tory candidate in Ottawa, reveals a host of previously unreported details."— Ottawa Citizen “ Full Circle offers the first account of what happened that night at the Chateau Laurier [between Belinda Stronach and Peter Mackay], but it may not be the last… Full Circle, which goes on sale today, also goes behind the scenes at the 2003 Tory leadership convention — which made Mr. MacKay leader of the PCs — and behind the scenes in the talks that eventually led to the merger of the Tories and the Canadian Alliance. Mr. Plamondon describes the poisonous relationship between Kings-Hants MP Scott Brison and Mr. MacKay at the 2003 convention, when they were bitter rivals for the Tory crown. When Mr. Brison threw his support to Albertan Jim Prentice — over the advice of John Hamm and Joe Clark — Mr. MacKay was ”not surprised.” — Halifax Chronicle Herald “A meticulous, blow-by-blow account of the road to merger that captures both the tension and the tedium of back-room politics.”— The Globe and Mail “Plam

Genres: Politics

472 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 2006

Reviews

[AndrewMillerTheSecond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plamondon writes a good piece of history, covering a consequential period in Canadian history: the fracturing and reunification of the conservative political movement from the late 1980s up to 2006. His experience as a PC/Tory insider helps considerably in this regard; I doubt you’ll find a more complete account of the 2003 PC leadership convention and merger with the Alliance anywhere else.

Unfortunately as a work of tactics or political ideology it is quite shallow. Plamondon makes his bias against Reform known throughout the book—in his telling, Preston Manning was merely a selfish renegade with a limited vision that could never achieve his supposed goals. I’m no fan of Reform (or the CPC), but it can be a distraction. Regardless, I don’t think it gets in the way of the retelling too much and he leaves most of the editorializing for the final chapter. Coming to the book’s message, the advice Plamondon gives to the Conservative Party does not feel actionable. “Stay united”? Well, duh. Just make sure to listen to grievances before they spin out of control, implores Plamondon… except he simultaneously discredits Manning’s reasons for staging a revolt in the first place, and implies that nothing would satisfy an opportunist like Preston. I do agree with him that Manning could’ve done more to reach out to PC members when his hand was strongest, but Charest and Clark were largely unwilling to lend a hand. It’s all quite simplistic and I don’t think will provide help to PM-in-waiting Poilievre if he has to deal with an insurgent PPC, e.g.

Whatever. I like party histories and this one is solid. Read it if you want to know about the PC/Reform rift.

[Muromets · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written modern history of the Conservative party, but more accurately, a history of conservative thought and disunity in Canada, written from a conservative’s perspective.

Easy enough to read and focuses on the main personalities in the various conservative or conservative-like parties in Canada, including the Progressive Conservatives, Reform, and Alliance. It doesn’t go into the major issues or the nuances of policy, instead concentrating on making your familiar with Preston Manning, Peter MacKay, Stephen Harper, their predecessors in Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney and surrounding cast.

The book offers an interesting glimpse into leadership conventions, party politics and maneuvering, as well as the massive gap that (still) exists in conservatives and the party figureheads that represent them.

Fourteen years from publication and conservatives contending to secure Canadian votes would still be wise to heed the author’s advice on creating a party that can appeal to all Canadians, build in roads with even those they disagree with, and present a unified front ready to form coalition to hold Liberal governments accountable.

[Stanley Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining history of the Canadian Conservative Party.