NATIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDACY POSITION PAPER

January 29, 2026

"The Canadian Alliance needs order and stability. In order to achieve this, it must address challenges made apparent in recent years: vote splitting, regionalism and management of dissent. The answer is integrity, integrity ... and more integrity." Margret Kopala.

1) CONSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY:

National Council is the guardian of the party' s constitution and processes. Amendments regarding leadership review and selection may be debated at the Edmonton convention in April. If approved, these will offer checks and balances between the membership, caucus and leader and so stabilize relations between them. Similarly, the adoption of a procedural authority to replace the arbitrary powers available to National Council under Section 18d will ensure a disciplined approach to Council business. A good procedural authority also offers methods for channeling grievances in constructive ways or, at a minimum, for dealing with them impartially and confidentially.

2) INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY:

The process of electing National Councillors will by itself give Council added legitimacy to strengthen the party in areas of communications and infrastructure. Broad based consultations with members and their Boards will, for instance, prevent inflammatory situations such as those experienced over the timing of candidate selection before the last federal election. Regularly held regional and provincial conferences will build team spirit and provide a framework for policy development and election readiness.

3) POLITICAL INTEGRITY:

It has been demonstrated that good policies by themselves do not win government. Sound management, incisive messaging, solid leadership supported by well-developed on-the-ground organization should position the Alliance strongly for the next election. Even so, the negative patterns that characterize Canadian conservatism in both its immediate and historical contexts may be a function, finally, of the divisions that exist along party lines. While the PC and CA remain separate, then, these patterns may continue. National Council must reaffirm its good faith with the membership and act on the mandate it received in a survey held last year to pursue exploratory talks with the PC's about co-operation. Any conclusions must then be returned to the membership for ratification, amendment or rejection.

Margret Kopala
Ottawa

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