Red Tory facts for kids

Red Tories are a special group of people within the Conservative Party of Canada. They are called "Red Tories" because they have some ideas that are a bit different from other conservatives.

While most conservatives believe in things like lower taxes and a smaller government, Red Tories also care a lot about social issues. They often support policies that focus on individual freedoms and helping communities. This makes them different from "Blue Tories", who usually have more traditional conservative views.

What are Red Tories?

A Red Tory is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. They believe in core conservative ideas like keeping taxes low. They also want the government to be smaller and not interfere too much in people's lives. This is part of their belief in personal freedom.

However, Red Tories also have some ideas that are more about social fairness. They might support policies that help everyone in society, not just focusing on economic growth. This mix of ideas makes them unique within the Conservative Party.

Red vs. Blue Tories

In Canadian politics, you often hear about "Red Tories" and "Blue Tories." These terms help describe different groups within the Conservative Party of Canada.

• Red Tories often focus on social issues and community support. They believe that the government has a role in helping people. They also value individual rights and freedoms.
• Blue Tories tend to focus more on economic issues. They strongly believe in very low taxes and a much smaller government. They think the market should solve most problems.

Both groups are part of the same party. But they have different ideas about how to best lead the country.

Famous Red Tories

Canada has had some important leaders who were considered Red Tories. Two well-known examples are former Prime Ministers:

• John Diefenbaker was a Prime Minister who led Canada from 1957 to 1963. He was known for his focus on human rights and social justice. He introduced the Canadian Bill of Rights.
• Joe Clark also served as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1980. He was known for his moderate views and his focus on social programs. He tried to unite different parts of the Conservative Party.

These leaders showed that it's possible to be conservative while also caring deeply about social issues.

Images for kids

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  Richard Hooker (1554–1600)

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  Sir Robert Borden (1915)

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  Phillip Blond (2018)