News of the B.C. Alternative movement's untimely death has been greatly exaggerated. Tonight, at 8:00, the newly-elected provincial Conservative executive council will be voting via conference call on a resolution that could salvage an earlier proposal to merge with Unity. That proposal failed to be approved at the Conservative's annual general meeting, which was held on Saturday. Unlike the original agreement in principle, this new deal (which was drafted by Unity communications director Blake Mackenzie) won't officially merge the two parties. That change was considered, by some, to be a constitutional amendment which would need to voted on via a referendum of the party membership.

Instead, the merger will simply happen in practice by having all Unity members automatically awarded Conservative memberships (which was part of the original agreement anyway). The deal also does away with plans to have a joint council draft a new constitution and determine the united party's policies. Instead those decisions will be made at a special general meeting, held within 45 days of September 25.

The deal removes a promise to "protect BC's publicly owned assets, including BC Hydro, ICBC, Highways, our shared resources and our sovereign land base" as one of the Conservative's founding principles. And it commits the Tories to immediately make half of their party's director-level positions available to Unity members.

The following are copies of the new deal (which was leaked to Public Eye) and the original agreement in principle.

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AGREEMENT-IN-PRINCIPLE BETWEEN THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CONSERVATIVE PARTY and THE BRITISH COLUMBIA UNITY PARTY (AMENDED)

1. Purpose of the Agreement

The purpose of this Agreement is to create a single provincial political party uniting the two existing parties into the British Columbia Conservative Party.

2. Name of the Party

The name of the party will be the British Columbia Conservative Party.

3. Membership

Upon ratification of this Agreement, all members of the BC Unity Party will automatically have their memberships transferred to the BC Conservative Party with their expiration date being the same as their current membership.

4. Guiding Principles for this Agreement

Following are 5 key guiding principles for this Agreement to be voted upon at a BC Conservative Party Special General Meeting:

1. BC First

The Party believes in serving BC and its citizens ahead of all other interests.

2. Free Enterprise/Fiscally Responsible

The Party believes in private enterprise and fiscal responsibility as the cornerstones of wealth creation and prosperity.

3. Social Conscience

The Party believes in a government that has compassion for the truly needy in society, including the disabled, the dispossessed, the sick and the elderly.

4. Democratic Accountability and Reform

The Party believes substantial reform of the political system is required to create political accountability and democratic renewal in BC.

5. Inclusive

The Party is an inclusive party that respects and welcomes all people from every background, and which seeks to find common ground on important social and political issues.

6. BC Conservative Party Executive and Board

BC Conservative Party Executive and Board will make available half the directors seats to make way to appoint 10 BC Unity Party board members to director positions. These directorships will be made available following an affirmed vote in favour of this agreement by the BC Unity Party membership on Saturday, September 25, 2004.

The BC Conservative Party Executive and Board will be responsible for:

* Carrying out such actions as are necessary to give effect to the Agreement
* Drafting a constitution, bylaws and a policy platform which is consistent with this Agreement and which will be subject to amendment at the Special General Meeting of the BC Conservative Party.
* Help with the transfer of current BC Unity Party Constituency Associations into BC Conservative Party Constituency Associations and the Establishment of new Constituency associations.
* Appointing an interim leader for the BC Conservative Party
* Determining rules for candidate recruitment
* Fundraising
* Organizing a leadership convention

6. Leadership Selection and Special General Meeting

The Leadership of the BC Conservative Party will be made vacant for a Leadership race. The BC Conservative Party Leadership will be decided on December 4, 2004.

A Special General Meeting will be called by the BC Conservative Party within 45 days of September 25, 2004.

The Special General Meeting to include;

*Adoption of a new/amended Constitution
*Adoption of Policy
*Election of a New BC Conservative Executive and Board of Directors.

7. Transfer of Assets

Upon ratification of this Agreement, all assets and liabilities of the BC Unity Party shall be transferred to the BC Conservative Party.

8. Ratification of Agreement

This Agreement must be ratified by both existing parties. The BC Unity Party will ratify by a mail ballot to be concluded by, or at, their AGM on September 25, 2004.

9. Nomination of Candidates

Neither existing party will permit nominations for the next general election until after ratification of this Agreement.

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AGREEMENT-IN-PRINCIPLE BETWEEN THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CONSERVATIVE PARTY and THE BRITISH COLUMBIA UNITY PARTY

1. Purpose of the Agreement

The purpose of this Agreement is to create a single provincial political party uniting the two existing parties.

2. Name of the Party

The name of the party will be the British Columbia Conservative Party.

3. Membership

Upon ratification of this Agreement, all members of the BC Unity Party will automatically have their memberships transferred to the BC Conservative Party with their expiration date being the same as their current membership.

4. Founding Principles

Following are 5 key founding principles:

1. BC First

The Party believes in serving BC and its citizens ahead of all other interests. We will protect BC's publicly owned assets, including BC Hydro, ICBC, Highways, our shared resources and our sovereign land base.

2. Free Enterprise/Fiscally Responsible

The Party believes in private enterprise and fiscal responsibility as the cornerstones of wealth creation and prosperity.

3. Social Conscience

The Party believes in a government that has compassion for the truly needy in society, including the disabled, the dispossessed, the sick and the elderly.

4. Democratic Accountability and Reform

The Party believes substantial reform of the political system is required to create political accountability and democratic renewal in BC.

5. Inclusive

The Party is an inclusive party that respects and welcomes all people from every background, and which seeks to find common ground on important social and political issues.

5. Interim Joint Council

Each of the existing parties will appoint three individuals to an Interim Joint Council which will be responsible for:

* carrying out such actions as are necessary to give effect to the Agreement
* drafting a constitution, bylaws and a policy platform which is consistent with this Agreement and which will be subject to amendment at the first general meeting of the united party
* establishing Riding associations
* appointing an interim leader for the united party
* determining rules for candidate recruitment
* organizing a leadership convention coincidental with the first general meeting of the united party

6. Leadership Selection and First General Meeting

The leadership will be decided at the first general meeting on December 4, 2004. To be eligible to vote, a person must be a member in good standing of the Party by November 14, 2004. A preferential ballot will be used. Members may mail in their ballot or vote at the first general meeting.

7. Transfer of Assets

Upon ratification of this Agreement, all assets and liabilities of the BC Unity Party shall be transferred to the BC Conservative Party.

8. Ratification of Agreement

This Agreement must be ratified by both existing parties. The BC Conservative Party will ratify at their AGM on September 18, 2004. The BC Unity Party will ratify by a mail ballot to be concluded by, or at, their AGM on September 25, 2004.

9. Nomination of Candidates

Neither existing party will permit nominations for the next general election until after ratification of this Agreement.