Conservatives know that it is up to MPs to reclaim their authority. The place to start is by exercising the ancient power of the purse. It would take only a relative handful of government backbenchers in league with the Opposition to make this happen. Progressive Conservatives should work to improve public awareness that the real issue is Parliament's duty to hold the government accountable and responsible. There are other challenges as well.
Parliament has to recognize in a responsible way the challenge it faces from judicial action.
The age of the Charter began almost 20 years ago. As Robert Stanfield said, it was the single most Americanizing influence ever introduced into our polity. Progressive Conservatives have to take the lead in reconciling this with our parliamentary tradition. Whether it is aboriginal rights, language rights or the criminal justice system, there is a role for Parliament and a role for the Courts. We have to come to a better definition of where one ends and the other begins, and we have to strike the right balance.