OTTAWA, May 2, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Stockwell Day, Leader of the Official Opposition, released a statement after the Alliance caucus meeting today saying, “I am pleased to announce that Canadian Alliance Members of Parliament unanimously endorsed the steps outlined in a strategic plan presented this morning. The plan contains a ‘to do’ list for every one in the party, including myself.”
In an article in today’s National Post, writer Don Martin, lays out some of the facts around the very public rupture within the Alliance caucus, suggesting that they point to an organized conspiracy. In “Et tu, Preston, Deb, Chuck, Rick, et al.?” Martin notes, “Manning’s resignation … (was shared) with Newsworld television viewers before he informed Day.” There was also Ian “Todd’s icy resignation on the morning after Deb Grey and Chuck Strahl allegedly notified Manning, prior to telling Day, of their decision to quit their high-profile posts.” Martin’s article also references Rick Anderson, Paul Wilson, Nancy Branscombe and Ken Kalopsis.
In a recent article by Edmonton Journal columnist Lorne Gunter, it is pointed out that Tom Long-Manning loyalist Branscombe, wife of Alliance national co-president Ken Kalopsis, was appointed head of the 2002 Alliance convention incredibly “without Day’s blessing or knowledge.” (https://lsn.ca/ldn/2001/apr/010423.html#1)
See the press release from the Alliance and the National Post story: https://www.canadianalliance.ca/hotissues/viewby/index.cfm?DoID=502&category=4&department=24&readarticle=1 https://www.nationalpost.com/search/story.html?f=/stories/20010502/549678.html