A solid but inconclusive majority of Reform party members who chose to vote last week gave party leadership approval to continue planning for a new right wing alternative to the governing Liberals.
But Reformers in rural Saskatchewan and Manitoba showed they are reluctant to move away from the Reform party to some new United Alternative geared to appeal to Ontario voters.
And Manitoba Reform maverick MP Jake Hoeppner announced he plans to run against Reform leader Preston Manning whenever a leadership review is called.
“My people are telling me we are moving away from Reform principles,” Hoeppner said in an interview June 11.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
He said many hard core Reform supporters from the Prairies are unhappy at how little attention party leaders pay to agricultural issues.
“We have a flood that is far worse than 1997 and farmers are affected,” said Hoeppner. “I was astounded we only got one question in the House of Commons yesterday. People are telling me our leaders have forgotten how important farmers are to this party.”
During the May vote by Reform members on whether to authorize party leadership’s proposal to continue designing a ‘united alternative’ aimed at moving beyond Reform’s western base to embrace Ontario and the Maritimes, 60.5 percent said yes. Results were announced June 10.
In Saskatchewan, 62 percent said no. Manitoba was almost evenly split, 50.5 percent yes and 49.5 percent no.
At a news conference June 10, Manning said he took the vote as a mandate to continue working on a united alternative, whether it is a new party or local co-operation between Reform and Progressive Conservative organizations.
Democracy is a “two sided coin,” Manning said. Opponents could make their case but in the end, they had to support the majority will.
Still, he acknowledged the large body of opposition and said he will try to calm fears. Reformers will get another vote next year to ratify or reject any specific proposal.
“I want to recognize the concerns of the people that voted ‘no’ and assure them that I’ll do everything in my power to relieve those concerns over the next year,” he said.
Conservative leaders proclaimed the split vote a sign that the United Alternative drive has ended in failure, since such a large minority of Reform members are skeptical.
Hoeppner said a large part of the problem is that party leaders are trying to appeal to middle-of-the-road urban voters rather than represent the farm and rural interests that helped found Reform.
“I think we have to start representing agriculture more,” he said.
“We cannot afford to make more bad moves that alienate our members.”
Hoeppner has been a strong opponent of the united alternative drive.
Party figures show that 64 percent of British Columbia Reform voters and 62 percent in Alberta supported continuing the process.
Just 49 percent of eligible members voted.
Hoeppner said that means not much more than 25 percent of Reform members support the move to change the party.
“I would say that is a pretty weak mandate.”
