Defining conservative values

Re: The Recipe For Conservative Success, Sept. 26. Douglas Cornish of Ottawa says conservatism only works when we find “the right kind of conservatism.” In view of the fact that “the right sort of conservatism,” as labelled but not defined by Mr. Cornish, appears to be a watereddown confection of Paul-Martin-Liberalism and Jack-Layton-socialism, I would very much like to know exactly what it is that Mr. Cornish believes is going to enable the Conservative party, under new leadership, to “change the country”?

When we speak of a resurgence of conservatism, are we really talking about ever-bigger government, evergrowing spending, ever-increasing financial support of unproductive industries, ever-larger subsidies for ever-lessefficient farming enterprises, ever-climbing divorce rates and ever-sinking birth rates? Is the survival of conservatism in Canada dependent upon the promotion of ghetto societies dedicated to the nurturing of foreign cultures and the studied neglect of Canada’s unique North American culture, which arose out of a bringing-together of British and French adventurism and resulted in the creation of one of the world’s most successful and most justly proud democracies?

Does Canada deserve to have a dynamic and dedicated Conservative party? Perhaps, and perhaps not. This country for far too long has gotten into the habit of defining itself in negative terms — not what we are but what we are not. And as long as our national news media insist on according space to those who so define it, nothing much is likely to change.