Orchard, Tory stalwarts launch lawsuit against Alliance merger 'coup'

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1845&ncid=721&e=11&u=/cpress/20031121/ca_pr_on_na/tory_merger_lawsuit

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TORONTO (CP) - Arguing a proposed merger with the Canadian Alliance amounts to a coup against the party that founded Canada, a group of Conservative stalwarts announced Friday they are suing their own leader


The group, led by former leadership contender David Orchard, wants the Ontario Superior Court to declare that Tory Leader Peter MacKay has violated the party's ground rules and therefore any merger should not be allowed to proceed. "They have suspended the constitution of the party," said Sean Dewart, a lawyer pressing the case on behalf of the plaintiffs.


"It's a coup. The only thing that's missing are the sunglasses."


Under an agreement reached between MacKay and Alliance Leader Stephen Harper, Conservatives will vote Dec. 6 on whether the parties should merge in the hopes of forming a viable right-wing alternative to the governing Liberals.


A two-thirds majority of delegates who will vote Dec. 6 is all that's required for a merger. The plaintiffs argue that will mean the extinction of the venerable party.