Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Who else may run for Conservative party leadership

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Mar, 2022 05:02 PM
  • Who else may run for Conservative party leadership

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 Ottawa-area MP declared his candidacy almost one month ago. He has begun fundraising and holding events. He has pledged to cancel the federal carbon tax.

Who’s thinking about it:

Jean Charest: The former Quebec premier who led the federal Progressive Conservatives in the mid-1990s is considering a run. He recently held a reception for MPs and senators in Ottawa and met with more of them one-on-one. He said he wanted to see the rules of the race before making a final decision.

Leslyn Lewis: The third-place finisher in the 2020 leadership race is expected to enter the contest next week. The Ontario MP recently emailed supporters asking if she could count on them to pick her on a ballot if she decides to run. Last time she ran, Lewis enjoyed heavy backing from the party’s social conservative members and those in Western Canada.

Scott Aitchison: He’s 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 later next week. Most recently, he’s served as the Conservative critic for labour.

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

Patrick Brown: The mayor of Brampton and former leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives will soon decide whether to run. He has been considering a bid and his office says he’s pleased with the length of time the race rules will allow candidates to sign up members.

Roman Baber: He’s an Independent MPP in Ontario who Premier Doug Ford booted from caucus last year for speaking out against COVID-19 lockdowns. He has since come out as opposing vaccine mandates and recently raised concerns about the federal Liberal government’s invoking of the Emergencies Act to quell anti-government protests and blockades.

Peter MacKay: He was 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 this debts from the contest.

Tasha Kheiriddin: The political commentator and consultant has said she’s been encouraged to run and is taking the idea seriously.

Michael Chong: The longtime Ontario MP ran in 2017 and recently said he hasn’t ruled out the idea of entering the race. He serves as the Conservative critic for foreign affairs.

Who’s out:

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 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

Girl found safe, to be returned to mother

Girl found safe, to be returned to mother
Last month, police issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrest of Michael Gordon Jackson and charged him with abduction in contravention of a custody or parenting order.

Girl found safe, to be returned to mother

597 COVID19 cases for Thursday in BC

597 COVID19 cases for Thursday in BC
There are 612 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 102 are in intensive care. In the past 24 hours, nine new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,840.

597 COVID19 cases for Thursday in BC

B.C. heeds devastating climate message: minister

B.C. heeds devastating climate message: minister
British Columbia's environment minister says the province can't afford to wait any longer to confront climate change after last year's devastating fires, floods, slides and heat waves. George Heyman says last year delivered the message that the time to address climate change is now.

B.C. heeds devastating climate message: minister

Canadians organize rallies in support of Ukraine

Canadians organize rallies in support of Ukraine
Demonstrations have been planned in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver today to denounce the Russian military strike against Ukraine, and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation has launched a fundraiser for humanitarian aid.

Canadians organize rallies in support of Ukraine

Canada brings in stronger sanctions for Russia

Canada brings in stronger sanctions for Russia
The new sanctions will target 58 people and entities connected to Russia, including members of that country's elite and their families, the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group and major Russian banks.

Canada brings in stronger sanctions for Russia

Emergency powers end but questions linger

Emergency powers end but questions linger
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday the extraordinary, time-limited powers would be pulled back now that the immediate crisis is over. They were brought in last week to respond to protests and blockades against COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal government.

Emergency powers end but questions linger