In 2005, Manning left the House of Commons and founded the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, a not-for-profit "political think tank and advocacy group" that promoted conservative principles. The Manning Centre had provided a networking opportunity for "conservatives from different provincial parties", and their "federal counterparts" and a space to "exchange ideas and propose policy initiatives", according to Chuck Strahl, who had served as a Reform MP and Conservative cabinet minister. Prior to the creation of the Manning Centre, there "wasn't a networking opportunity for what Preston always called the 'conservative movement,' as opposed to political parties." Preston believed that "the conservative movement benefit from getting together, in all of its facets, and without having the party hierarchy managing it or overlooking it. This was the best way to get the best conservative ideas."