Rona Ambrose’ final speech as Leader to Caucus
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
110.201965
Summary
Learn English with Tory Leader Ronna Ambrose. In this speech, she reflects on her time as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and reflects on the lessons learned from losing the election to the Liberal Party of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Transcript
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The goodbye party, really, for the party, for the Honourable Ronna Ambrose.
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She's leaving us and leaving politics, and we wish her well.
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Colleagues, friends, Sheikh Azmi, it was about a year and a half ago that we gathered together
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Six million Canadians had voted for the Conservative Party, more than in 2006 and 2008, but it wasn't
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enough, and we were back on the opposition benches.
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When we suffered a reverse, there was always the risk that we let us define ourselves.
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We're stuck on the defeat, and we're leaving the ground, ashamed and contrary.
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When we were faced with a setback, there's always a risk that we'll let it define us.
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We'll dwell on the loss and retreat from the field, angry and upset.
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And that is not what those six million Canadians, hard-working men and women who are the bedrock of our support, expected us to do.
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Canadians expected a Conservative Party to give a voice to hard-working families and taxpayers.
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And we showed Canadians a Conservative team that is a real, viable alternative to the arrogant, entitled, out-of-touch Liberal government.
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And it took the Liberals no time at all to get back to their old ways.
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Instead, they nickel-and-dimed families with tax hikes to pay for their reckless spending.
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They said they'd grow the economy by borrowing only $10 billion.
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But their own reports show that the budget won't be balanced until our kids are in their 50s.
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And Justin Trudeau said that he would be different.
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Not like the bad old days of the sponsorship scandal.
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But very quickly they gave in to the old instincts.
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They helped themselves to generous moving expenses, comfortable limo rides, and office renovations too tempting to pass up.
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The Liberals collected big donations from people looking for access to the Prime Minister and access to the government.
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And the Prime Minister himself broke the rules to enjoy a trip to a private island in the Caribbean.
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But sadly, for the contributors, the Conservatives of Canada were there.
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We were ready to ask them for their cynicism, their elitism, and their arrogance.
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We are here to defend ordinary citizens and their families.
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But fortunately for the taxpayer, Canada's Conservatives were here.
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We were ready to hold them to account for the cynicism, elitism, and arrogance.
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Many of these outrageous examples of Liberal entitlement would never have seen the light of day.
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Not for the hard work of the Conservatives in this room.
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We are here to look out for everyday working Canadians and their families.
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And at the same time, we're getting things done.
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When Justin Trudeau tried to change what Canadians' vote means, without a referendum, we stopped him.
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When the Liberals wouldn't do anything to help the Yazidis, the most vulnerable victims of ISIS,
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Conservatives forced them to recognize the genocide and secured refuge for the women and girls in greatest danger.
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Canadians, Canadians have noticed our hard work.
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They expected us to repeat all of their mistakes in opposition.
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They thought they'd have a free hand in Parliament.
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But instead, I think a different thought is dawning on them.
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Maybe Justin Trudeau could be a one-term Prime Minister.
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As a party, we are strong, we are focused, and we are united.
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Almost 260,000 Canadians are now members of the Conservative Party of Canada.
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A testament not just to the hard work of our leadership candidates,
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but to the broad appeal of our message right across this country.
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And there are other numbers to prove that support.
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In the first quarter of the year, Conservatives raised almost three times as much as the Liberals,
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from thousands and thousands of more Canadians.
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And our results in the last by-elections and in the polls
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show that more and more Canadians are voting for us or considering it.
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And there was no guarantee that things would turn out this way.
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We had the strengths within ourselves and within our movement
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to regroup and rebuild stronger and better than ever.
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It has been a privilege to have led the Conservative Party in this phase.
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But as I pass the torch, I have to tell you I am confident
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In 10 days, we will know who will lead Conservatives into the next election.
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And I have no doubt in my mind that together with this team in this room,
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the next leader will be the next Prime Minister of this country.
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We will unite around the values and principles we've always stood for
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and around our love of Canada, our home, and the greatest country in the world.
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And we'll unite. We will unite around the leader chosen by our members of our party.
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We will offer them all of the passion and determination
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that we've given to our work over the past year and a half.
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Because, let me tell you, when Canada's Conservatives are strong, focused, and united,
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Thank you for listening to The Blueprint, Canada's Conservative podcast.
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To find more episodes, interviews, and in-depth discussions of politics in Canada,
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search for The Blueprint on iTunes or visit podcast.conservative.ca.