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How is the PC Party Leader Chosen?

General Overview

The PC Party leadership selection process is based on a primary/convention system. This system combines direct member participation with the traditional convention format in electing a new party leader. The system proceeds in two stages:

1. The election of convention delegates by individual members.
2. The election of a party leader by convention delegates.

Election of Convention Delegates

Election of convention delegates takes place at the level of PC Party constituency associations, PC university campus clubs, and party-affiliated organizations. Each of these is eligible to send a pre-determined number of delegates to the national leadership convention.

Persons submit themselves as delegate candidates to their local constituency association, campus club, or party-affiliated organization. Each delegate candidate must declare which leadership candidate they support or if they are “undeclared.” Party members then cast two ballots. On one ballot they vote for a particular leadership candidate or indicate that they are “undeclared.” On a second ballot they chose preferred delegate candidates from their constituency association, campus club or party-affiliated organization to represent them at the national leadership convention.

Delegates to the national leadership convention are then selected according to:

1. The proportion of the popular vote the leadership candidate they support received
2. The amount of votes the delegate candidate received in their constituency riding, campus club or party-affiliated organization.

For example, if leadership candidate Peter MacKay receives 30 percent of the popular vote, then 30 percent of the delegates at the leadership convention will have officially declared their support for him. That 30 percent will consist of delegates receiving the most votes in their particular constituency association, campus club or party-affiliated organization.

Election of Party Leader

At the national leadership convention, convention delegates elect a new party leader through a majority/multiple ballot method. This works in the following manner:

• On the first ballot, convention delegates must vote in favour of the candidate they declared their support for. If one of the leadership candidates receives 50 percent of the vote or more, then they are elected the party leader. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote or more, then the candidate with the fewest votes on the first ballot is retired and a second ballot is held.
• After the first ballot, convention delegates are free to vote for any candidate of their choosing. This process is repeated until one of the candidates receives 50 percent of the vote or more and is elected leader of the party.

Important Links

PC Party Website
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This page was last modified: August 10, 2007