I mourn the passing of the Progressive Conservatives; I spent my whole life with them as a card-carrying member - until the Reform take-over and Harper's elevation>

My party was the party of Bill Davis, Bob Stanfield and Joe Clark. My party took the view that citizens should carry on with their own lives according to their tastes and that government existed to provide a certain basket of services at a reasonable, low price.

My party was the natural home of the small businessman trying to make a buck and live a quiet life unbothered by any grandiose plans or overweaning ambitions.

It's gone, replaced by 'social conservative' dinosaurs, ignoramuses devoid of any thought other than 'cut taxes' and hate-spewing old-stock Canadians.