QUEBEC — The idea of merging Canada's two right-wing parties received a warm reception among Quebec Tory faithful Saturday, as Conservative Leader Peter MacKay continued his campaign to sell the deal.

While many observers predicted the potential merger of the Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance parties would be a tough sell in the province, the idea was greeted with cautious optimism by about 100 Tories who met in Quebec City.

"I find it could be a great thing to join forces and have an alternative to the Liberals, but it's not a blank cheque we are willing to offer," said Stephane Beaudin, a 29-year-old party member from Montreal.

"I say yes to the merger, but not at any price."

Under a deal signed Thursday between MacKay and Alliance Leader Stephen Harper, the membership of both parties have until Dec. 12 to approve the merger and create the Conservative Party of Canada.

While the merger was supported by most of the Tories at the meeting Saturday, some party stalwarts, such as former leader Joe Clark, have criticized the deal. Another holdout is Andre Bachand, the only Quebec Tory MP, who last week said the deal was like "sleeping with the enemy."

While softening his rhetoric, Bachand said the two parties are too far apart on a host of issues, including the place of Quebec in Canada, regional economic development, bilingualism and gay rights.

"We are going to vote on the death of the Progressive Conservative Party without knowing what the new party is going to be," said Bachand.

"I am asking questions, in a positive manner, but as a Quebecer and a francophone, I am worried. I remain against it."

However others pointed out that current members of both the Tories and the Alliance fought to have Quebec recognized in the Constitution as a distinct society in the 1980s.

"I'll be working for the successful merger of the parties," said Michel Rivard, a former Parti Quebecois member of the Quebec legislature who has worked for both the Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance.

Rivard said the merger could lead to a repeat of the 1984 election, when Conservatives under Brian Mulroney swept to power with 58 seats in Quebec.

"The majority of Quebecers who want to dump the corrupt regime of the Liberals will figure out that the only way to avoid wasting a vote is to vote for the new party," he said.

The Conservatives have sold 1,000 memberships in the days since the merger deal was struck, MacKay said Saturday.

"People across the country are extremely excited about it," MacKay told a news conference.

"For the first time in perhaps 10 years the fate of the election is not decided before the votes in the general election are cast."

David Orchard, the former Tory leadership candidate who helped make MacKay party leader earlier this year, has said the deal was "born in betrayal."

In return for Orchard's support at the May leadership convention, MacKay agreed there would be no merger between the parties.

"I haven't made an agreement to merge the party, I've made an agreement to present the party with the option," said MacKay.

"David Orchard is entitled to his opinion. He is one member of this party, he is going to say what he is going to say. He's very emotional about it, that's fine.

"Ultimately this is larger than any one person. This is about democracy, this is about the country. This is nation building. This isn't about one person's political agenda or political future."

Already the names of several high-profile politicians are being floated to lead the new party.

MacKay, who has not stated whether he plans to run for the leadership, said he's aware of what's at stake for him personally.

"Look, I took great risk, I'm aware of that," he said. "I will very likely pay a price for doing so. My job is on the line, is it not?"