Progressive Conservative Party (Maritime Republic)

Progressive Conservative Party Parti progressiste conservateur (French)
Leader	Abner Tilley
Chairperson	Robert Lawrence
Founded	August 22, 1877
Headquarters	16th Street Fredericton, Maritime Republic
Student wing	Progressive Conservative Students
Youth wing	PC Youth
Membership	101,000 (2017)
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Economic liberalism Classical liberalism American unionism Libertarianism (unofficial)
Political position	Centre-right
International affiliation	American Coalition for Liberty International Democratic Union
Regional affiliation	Asia Pacific Democrat Union
Official colors	Blue, Red, Yellow
National Assembly	61 / 162
County Ministers	14 / 36
American Parliament	6 / 18
Political parties in the Maritime Republic Elections in the Maritime Republic

The Progressive Conservative Party (French: Parti progressiste conservateur), commonly known as the Progressive Conservatives (French:Progressistes conservateurs) and abbreviated as the PCP, is a centre-right political party in the Maritime Republic. The party is one of the oldest parties in the country having been founded in 1877 after it split from the Conservative Protectorate Party that year. The party is lead by incumbent President Abner Tilley and is headquarters is in the national capital of Fredericton.

The Progressive Conservative Party is a liberal conservative party that also embraces tenants of economic liberalism and classical liberalism with some being libertarian. The party is also staunchly pro-unionist and heavily favors and supports many of the policies of the Conference of American States. The party is one of the largest parties in the country at around 134,000 members as of 2017 and is surpassed only by its historic rival, the Liberal Party at 134,000 members. The party generally favors a free-market approach to economics, a more socially liberal approach to many social issues, but is hesitant to dismantle historic hierarchies (social, cultural and political) and is a part of the American Coalition for Liberty in the American Parliament and American Council. Generally speaking, the Progressive Conservatives' base is primarily located within rural counties, large towns, and some coastal communities and religious citizens, farmers, and citizens of rural counties make up the majority of the Progressive Conservative base.

Following the 2018 legislative election, the party currently holds around 61 seats in the National Assembly including the Speaker of the Assembly and is in a coalition government with the Christian Democratic Party to form a coalition government after losing their previous majority to a joint opposition lead by the Liberal Party. The party also has 14 out of the 36 County Ministers and holds 6 out of the Maritime's 18 seats in its delegation to the American Parliament.

History

Early years

The Progressive Conservative Party was founded on August 22, 1877 after the party split from the Conservative Protectorate Party during the period where the Maritime Republic was a protectorate of the British Empire and went by the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia Protectorate. The Progressive Conservatives were founded by James College who differed from the Conservative Protectorates in that he and his new party supported both independence and republicanism. During the early years of the party, the Progressive Conservatives had struggled and won less than 10 seats in legislative elections throughout the 19th century, though support for the party grew by the turn of the 20th century as calls for independence increased alongside a push for greater autonomy and home rule. In the 1908 election, the Progressive Conservatives made up the Official Opposition for the first time and by 1914, they were the largest party in the opposition and not in government. During World War I, Maritime troops fought as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Corps, but the Progressive Conservatives, lead by Walter Foster, opposed involvement in the war and were the leading anti-war party and force in politics throughout the conflict. By the 1920s, support for independence had now gained the support of most of the general public and in 1922, a Progressive Conservative-led government was formed for the first time after Arthur Rhodes was elected President that same year.

Political positions

Economic issues

• Support for a free market system.
• Support for only limited government intervention.
• Support for accepting the Amero.
• Support for a moderately sized welfare state
• Support a minimum wage of only $9 an hour and not higher.
• Establish a low tax rate nationwide.

Social issues

• Support for same-sex marriage and civil unions.
• Support legal access to abortion, but not on demand and with some regulation.
• Support partial drug legalization.
• Increase investment into First Nation communities.
• Support traditional social and cultural institutions.
• Expand civil liberties
• Protect the rights of demographic minorities.

Foreign policy

• Support the Conference of American States.
• Support for American integration.
• Oppose authoritarian governments and regimes.
• Maintain strong ties with nations in Anglo-America.
• Support international humanitarian efforts

See also

• Elections in the Maritime Republic