Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Mar, 2022 01:32 PM
  • Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out

OTTAWA - With Sept. 10 picked as the date for when the Conservative Party of Canada will have a new leader, time is ticking for prospective candidates and their teams to get into place. Those running have until April 19 to throw their hat into the ring and until June 3 to sell memberships.

Here’s a look at the contest so far:

Who’s in:

Pierre Poilievre: The 42-year-old longtime Ottawa-area MP declared his candidacy just days after former leader Erin O'Toole was ousted. He has begun fundraising and holding events in Montreal, Regina and soon Toronto. Among the things he has promised party members is to cancel the federal carbon tax.

Leslyn Lewis: The third-place finisher in the 2020 leadership race is running again. In the past contest, the former Bay Street lawyer enjoyed heavy backing from the party’s social conservative members and those in Western Canada. She was elected as an MP last fall in the rural southwestern Ontario riding of Haldimand-Norfolk.

Roman Baber: The Independent MPP in Ontario who Premier Doug Ford booted from the Progressive Conservative caucus for speaking out against COVID-19 lockdowns in January 2021. He says he was the first candidate in the race to do so and also wants to stand up to cancel culture.

Jean Charest: The former Quebec premier who led the federal Progressive Conservatives in the mid-1990s is jumping back into politics and formally launched his campaign in Calgary. He's running the under slogan "Built to Win." Charest, 63, is highlighting his years of experience to party members.

Who’s thinking about it:

Patrick Brown: The mayor of Brampton, Ont., and former leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives, is expected to enter the race Sunday with a launch in the Greater Toronto Area. He previously served as an MP.

Scott Aitchison: The two-term Ontario MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka. Before that, he served as the mayor of Huntsville, Ont. He confirmed he’s building a team and would have more to say soon. Most recently, he has served as the Conservative labour critic.

Leona Alleslev: The former MP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill is considering a run. She was defeated in last fall's federal election. Alleslev joined the Conservatives in 2018, after crossing the floor from the Liberals. Alleslev served as the party's deputy leader under former leader Andrew Scheer.

Peter MacKay: A cabinet minister in former prime minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government. He was leader of the Progressive Conservatives when the party merged with the Canadian Alliance to form the Conservative Party of Canada. He placed second to O’Toole in the 2020 leadership race in a contest many felt he was likely to win. MacKay is still fundraising to pay down his debts from the contest.

Who’s out:

Michael Chong: The longtime Ontario MP ran in 2017 and says after reflection has decided not to run again. Chong says "now is not the time" and wants to focus on his role as the party's foreign affairs critic.

Tasha Kheiriddin: The political commentator and consultant said after considering a bid, she decided against running and instead threw her support behind Charest's campaign.

Rona Ambrose: The party’s last interim leader, who was a cabinet minister in the Harper government, says she’s not going to run despite many Tories hoping that she would.

Brad Wall: Saskatchewan’s former premier says he’s enjoying life in the private sector and won’t be returning to elected politics.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford: Ford says his hands are full running for re-election provincially in June.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney: The former MP and high-profile cabinet minister in the Harper government says he’s not interested in going after the party’s top job.

MORE National ARTICLES

Tories end boycott of national security committee

Tories end boycott of national security committee
Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen announced the reversal on Tuesday, saying she was writing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to have Tory MPs Michelle Rempel Garner and Rob Morrison appointed to the committee.

Tories end boycott of national security committee

US fires shot across Canada's bow over digital tax

US fires shot across Canada's bow over digital tax
Canada's proposal, which includes a three per cent tax worth $3.4 billion in revenue over five years, would only take effect in 2024 if those efforts don't come to pass.

US fires shot across Canada's bow over digital tax

2,103 COVID19 cases over 4 days

2,103 COVID19 cases over 4 days
There are 688 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 108 are in intensive care. In the past 96 hours, 44 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,830.    

2,103 COVID19 cases over 4 days

Canada and the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Canada and the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Putin on Monday announced the deployment of Russian troops into two separatist regions on his country’s border with Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk. Both regions have already suffered eight years of war after Russia began providing weapons, ammunition and in some cases clandestine troops to separatist rebels in 2014. 

Canada and the Russia-Ukraine conflict

B.C. deficit forecast at $5.5 billion for 2022-23

B.C. deficit forecast at $5.5 billion for 2022-23
Finance Minister Selina Robinson said Tuesday a three-year climate fund will support ongoing disaster cleanup and rebuilding in southern B.C. communities hit by last November’s floods and mudslides.

B.C. deficit forecast at $5.5 billion for 2022-23

Man wanted in several jurisdictions arrested in Surrey

Man wanted in several jurisdictions arrested in Surrey
The driver was identified as 32-year-old, Zachary Wagner who had active arrest warrants out of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Sunshine Coast, Fort St John and Whitehorse. Wagner was wanted for various offences some of which included assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and unauthorized possession of a firearm. 

Man wanted in several jurisdictions arrested in Surrey