A term that, when used in the Canadian context, refers to a fiscally conservative politician with "liberal" social tendancies. (A Progressive Conservative is sometimes called a Tory, and the party color is blue. The Liberal party color is red; hence the name.).

An example of a Red Tory is Jean Charest. He was originally elected as a French Canadian MP under Brian Mulroney's majority Conservative government. Indeed, much of Mulroney's success was due to his skills in uniting red tory and blue tory elements from Canada's east and west. After that government's demise, Charest eventually became party leader for a time. Following that, he switched parties and became leader of Quebec's provincial liberal party.

Curiously, you never hear the term "Blue Grit" used. (In Canada, Tory is to Conservative as Grit is to Liberal.)

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