The ideology clash within Canadian conservatism

The praise and accolades that rightly followed the death of Brian Mulroney last week should prompt Canadians to consider what policies their country needs today to match the major and transformative achievements of Canada’s 18th prime minister. But what are those principles that dominated during the Mulroney years and how do they compare with the ideas currently circulating through Conservative party circles?

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The contemporary internal battles within Canadian conservatism, from the Mulroney era to Stephen Harper and now Pierre Poilievre, cover complex and sometimes subtle conflicts. The nature of those conflicts were reflected in the range of commentary — from left, right and centre — written in praise or criticism of Brian Mulroney as leader of what was still then known as the Progressive Conservative party.

There is, however, an underlying consistency in the critical perspectives that break down into two streams of conservative thinking. One stream flows toward what is now known as neoliberalism based on the principles of individualism, free markets and trade, and reduced dependence on government control and spending. The other stream, perhaps better known as traditional conservatism, holds similar general views but with a willingness to stray some distance from the absolutes of individual and market freedom.

Mulroney and Harper represent these two differing streams of Canadian conservatism, differences that were highlighted in the past few days of commentary........

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