The Paradox of Progressive Conservatives

Pragmatic non-monogamy, old pickup trucks, and the good life in Nova Scotia

Progressive Conservative. It’s the Jumbo Shrimp of political parties.

There’s something awesomely local about the term Progressive Conservative. In a place that can be aggressively polite or cheerfully pessimistic—it sounds like a contradiction at first, but somehow, it works. And the contradiction is exactly why I’m drawn to it.

Progressive Conservatism gets labeled as "both-side-ism" sometimes, but I’d argue that’s exactly its strength. It’s not about sitting on the fence or avoiding tough decisions; it’s about recognizing that good ideas don’t belong to just one side. Life isn’t black and white—it’s full of middle tones, and Progressive Conservatism thrives in that space. It’s pragmatic politics. It’s about taking the best from both ends of the spectrum, pushing forward where it makes sense, and pulling back when needed. In a world where extremes are fighting for the wheel in a way that might cause an accident, sometimes you need a driver who can see the value in both directions and steer a path right down the middle.

I think of it this way. A car has two pedals because driving, like life, takes both - in ever-changing circumstances and constant adjustment, often shifting from one to the other very quickly as the road demands. So politics that’s all one or the other (I’m looking at you Canadian Conservative Party) can be good for a minute, but are often wrong regularly and it can cause an accident. It's not good enough to just take your foot off the gas, sometimes brakes are needed. But all brakes no gas goes nowhere. Progressive Conservative is about using both the gas and brakes of progress on the road to prosperity.

Kerouac said, “The road is life,” and life is nothing if not unpredictable. You never know when you’ll hit a smooth stretch of pavement or when the road will suddenly turn to gravel. Sometimes, you need to let the engine hum, and other times, you’ve got to pull over and check the map or kick in the four-wheel-drive. Kerouac knew that life isn’t about speeding from point A to point B. It’s too messed up for that. It’s about the stops along the way, the detours, the breakdowns, and the unplanned conversations with strangers that change your perspective. You end up somewhere unexpected, but somehow, exactly where you need to be.

I know that the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia is an old pickup truck— that’s why I like it. Beat up, a little rusty, but dependable. It doesn’t roar down the highway at 120 km/h, but it’ll get you through a muddy field without worrying about the paint and that straight six is efficient in its way. Ya, it rattles a bit when you hit a bump, and you have to jiggle the key just right to start it in the winter, but that’s part of it. There’s a kind of beauty in knowing it’s seen some miles. It’s the truck that’s carried firewood, tools, maybe even a couple of bad decisions—and yet, it’s still here. Still running. And in a political world full of potholes, sometimes you just need a reliable old truck to get the job done.

Political Open Relationships

I believe in non-monogamous politics. I’ve supported - I am supporting - politicians from every party. Like those Easy Riders in Sloan sang, I see the good in everyone. I’ve supported the Greens, really worked hard for the Liberals, doorknocked with the NDP, and, yes, exchanged concerns with the Conservatives. Good ideas can come from anywhere—for citizens, party politics shouldn’t be a monogamous relationship. But if there’s a spot on the spectrum where I’m most comfortable, it’s in that messy middle ground: Progressive Conservatism.

It’s like calling yourself a lazy overachiever or a cautious daredevil. It seems weird at first but those are real things that capture the depth of who we are together. It’s the kind of thinking that makes sense for the rapidly changing, fast-moving times we live in.

Life is full of complexity. It’s not a straight road, and driving through it takes both an accelerator and a brake. Sometimes, you need to push ahead—innovate, make bold decisions, put your foot on the gas. Other times, the road gets a little windy, and you’d better slow down, take stock, and make sure you don’t fly off the edge. It’s also how you navigate the tightest turns and most unexpected hazards. Parties that focus solely on one or the other may be great in a moment of crisis or triumph, but they don’t do so well when the road demands more traction. It’s not enough to just ease off the gas. Sometimes, you need to hit the brakes. But if all you ever do is brake, well, you're not going anywhere, are you?

That’s why the paradox of Progressive Conservatism speaks to me. It’s not about being paradoxical. It’s about pragmatism, purpose, prosperity, and progress. That’s a lot of p’s to hold on a long drive. It’s about understanding that progress and preservation aren’t enemies—they’re partners on a long road trip. One makes the world better, the other makes sure we don’t lose sight of what got us here in the first place. Of course, even in this, there’s a reason why the windshield is so much bigger than the rearview mirror. And here in Nova Scotia, the party has a history of, and a plan for, striking that balance—not perfect - not fast enough for some or slow enough for others, but real results on the ground that reflect both forward motion and careful thought.

It’s also good that Progressive Conservatives don’t feel like an outpost of a larger, disconnected national brand. They’re here, rooted in the province, grounded in local values. Not everything needs to be dictated by some big-box government vision from a distant head office. It’s the highest possible order of truly local politics. Its small size, small bank account, and small number of big connections keep it humble.

The Backstory

Pragmatically, if you see a party in a better position to do a better job, vote for them. I will too! But consistently the party has captured the spirit of Nova Scotia’s hopes since the end of World War II.

The Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia has its roots in the broader Canadian Progressive movement of the early 20th century, which sought to address social and economic inequalities through moderate reform. The movement merged with the Conservative Party in 1942, forming the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party of Canada, and influenced provincial politics as well.

After World War II, Nova Scotia’s PC Party experienced a resurgence, particularly under the leadership of Robert Stanfield, a socialist who became premier in 1956. Stanfield's pragmatic, centrist approach helped modernize the province and establish a lasting political legacy. The party continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, with notable leaders like John Buchanan and Dr. Hamm, who served as premiers through my growing up, bringing previously unimagined stability and development to Nova Scotia.

Sidebar - For political junkies and historians, I’d like to also argue that Dr. John Savage was the greatest Progressive Conservative premier of Nova Scotia, even though he ran as a Liberal… a miscalculation that led to his political downfall.

The Progressive Conservatives have since remained a significant force in the province, adapting to the changing political landscape while holding onto their core values of fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and moderate reform.

An argument that’s never settled and work that’s never done.

Citizens can always imagine more and better. It’s the very core of the citizen’s job. No matter what is accomplished. No matter how far we come. It’s our job to be increasingly dissatisfied with the way things are and agitate for more and better. Even if some of us have enough, we advocate for those still on the outside of life’s golden circle.

I’m always writing this—democracy is supposed to be messy. It’s not about settling the argument, it’s about having it. Government and political parties should be a space in which things can happen not a rule book or support group. That’s what makes it vibrant, alive, and real. Democracy is the back-and-forth we engage in to figure out the shape of things to come. And Progressive Conservatism? It’s one of the few political philosophies that leans into that tension. It understands that democracy isn’t about picking one pedal and sticking to it. It’s about knowing how to navigate both.

In the end, that’s what appeals to me. It’s not that Progressive Conservatism has all the answers—nobody does. It’s that they’re willing to embrace the contradictions and complexities of real life, to recognize that governing isn’t a simple game of red light, green light. It’s more like driving down a road that’s constantly shifting under your tires, and knowing how to keep the truck between the ditches with a heavy load.

In politics, the lows are always lower than the highs are high.

It’s not flashy. It’s not perfect. Anyone who stands up and tries to help can be made to look like a fool. Anyone who says what they think will find someone to disagree. Anyone who must talk will eventually say the wrong thing. People can find fault with anything. But it’s honest politics... even though that’s maybe the biggest contradiction of all. And in a political world that often feels like it’s swerving from one extreme to another, pillar to post, progressive conservatism is, in my view, exactly what we need.