Conservative leadership candidates so far
Confirmed candidates
Photo credit to Unsplash
Patrick Brown at his campaign launch in Brampton, Ont. CHRIS YOUNG/THE CANADIAN PRESS
PATRICK BROWN
The current mayor of Brampton, Ont., Mr. Brown is a former federal Conservative MP, and was the Ontario Progressive Conservative leader from 2015 to 2018, when he quit as he faced sexual-misconduct allegations that he strongly denied.
He launched his campaign with a 25-minute address in Brampton on March 13 where he underscored his potential to help the Conservative Party make inroads in urban and suburban Canada.
Jean Charest at his March 10 campaign launch in Calgary.
TODD KOROL/REUTERS
JEAN CHAREST
A Mulroney-era cabinet minister who led the Progressive Conservatives from 1993 to 1998, Mr. Charest then switched to Quebec’s provincial Liberals, serving as premier of Quebec for nine years. He’s been out of politics since 2012′s student protests in Quebec helped the Parti Québécois unseat the Liberals.
As premier, Mr. Charest introduced a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions, but in the private sector he’s also built strong connections to Alberta’s oil-and-gas sector and was adviser to the company that sought to build the contentious Energy East pipeline. His March 10 campaign launch was a dual event in Montreal and Calgary.
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre. BLAIR GABLE/REUTERS
PIERRE POILIEVRE
The MP for Ottawa’s Carleton riding was first to announce his intention to run, only three days after Mr. O’Toole’s ouster.
He’s long positioned himself to the right of Mr. O’Toole, appealing directly to the public with social-media videos and slogans separate from the party’s. He was one of the most prominent Conservatives to support the convoy protesters who blockaded downtown Ottawa this past February, whose manifesto effectively called for overthrowing the government.
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis. FRANK GUNN/THE CANADIAN PRESS
LESLYN LEWIS
A former Bay Street lawyer, Ms. Lewis appealed to the social-conservative vote in 2020′s leadership race and managed to come in third. She won the Ontario riding of Haldimand-Norfolk last fall and is one of the few Black MPs currently in the House.
She’s also been outspoken about the rights of Canadians who don’t want to declare whether they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, and has refused to confirm her own status.
Ontario MPP Roman Baber. HANDOUT
ROMAN BABER
Mr. Baber represents the Toronto riding of York Centre in the Ontario legislature. He sat as a Progressive Conservative until January of last year, when his criticism of Premier Doug Ford’s COVID-19 restrictions at the time got him booted from caucus and barred from running for the PCs again in June’s provincial election.
JOSEPH BOURGAULT
The CEO of a farm-equipment company in Saskatchewan, Mr. Bourgault promises on his campaign website to oppose COVID-19 restrictions and carbon pricing. He is co-founder of Canadians for Truth, Freedom and Justice, a group that claims governments and “globalists” are using the pandemic to “justify the great reset.”
SCOTT AITCHISON
Mr. Aitchison is MP for Ontario’s Parry Sound-Muskoka riding and a former mayor of Huntsville, Ont. He launched his campaign on March 20.
MARC DALTON
The MP for Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge, B.C., launched his campaign on Twitter on March 20. Mr. Dalton, a former teacher, was a B.C. Liberal MLA from 2009 to 2017 before running federally for the first time in 2019. "an inquiry into breaches of the Canadian Charter of Rights and the coercive measures that the government took to get people vaccinated." (Maple Ridge-Pit Meadows News)
LEONA ALLESLEV
The former Ontario MP held an April 6 news conference announcing her plan to run. She joined the Conservatives in 2018, after crossing the floor from the Liberals, and was former leader Andrew Scheer’s deputy.
JOEL ETIENNE
The Conservative candidate for York Centre in the 2021 federal election has a campaign website and is collecting signatures for nomination papers, but has not officially announced his candidacy. He’s a lawyer with a background in human rights and commercial law.
BOBBY SINGH
The businessman and entrepreneur from near Toronto says he plans to run. His campaign website says he is a champion for human rights and the son of immigrants.
Who’s ruled out running
Conservative MP Michael Chong.JUSTIN TANG/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Michael Chong: Conservative MP who spearheaded the Reform Act. He says he’d prefer to keep his focus on foreign policy, his shadow-cabinet role, instead of running for leader.
Peter MacKay: A Harper-era cabinet minister who ran and lost for the leadership to Mr. O’Toole in 2020. He says he won’t run this time.
Rona Ambrose: Former interim Conservative leader who’s ruled out a candidacy.
Doug Ford: Ontario Premier who says “my hands are full” with June’s provincial election.
Jason Kenney: Alberta Premier who says the position is “not of any interest to me.”
Brad Wall: Former Saskatchewan premier who says he’s happy with his current private-sector job.
Tasha Kheiriddin: A political commentator who’s supporting Mr. Charest.
Our thanks to the Globe and Mail for the analysis/photos and to the Maple Ridge-Pit Meadows News for the data.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-conservative-party-leaders-candidates-tracker/
"Arnold Viersen endorses Leslyn Lewis for CPC boss"
"I think she has what it takes to lead this country," he said in an April 25 interview."
https://www.townandcountrytoday.com/local-news/arnold-viersen-endorses-leslyn-lewis-for-cpc-boss-5314981?utm_campaign=David%20Akin%27s%20%F0%9F%87%A8%F0%9F%87%A6%20Roundup&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter