Why Canada’s conservatives are still locked out—and what to do about it

Why Canada’s conservatives are still locked out—and what to do about it COMMENTARY 29 MAY 2026 i ARTICLE SUMMARY QUOTES This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Winds of Change conference, a formative moment in modern Canadian conservatism. Convened at a time of deep political fragmentation on the Right, the conference brought together a new generation of thinkers and activists to advance both the case for unity and a more assertive conservative vision for the country. Its ideas helped shape the creation of the Conservative Party of Canada and the policy direction of the Harper era. T…