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Home > Features > The Conservative
Party of Canada: Uniting the Right |
Selecting a Leader for the new Conservative Party of Canada
Who will lead Canada’s right-wing into the next election?
Leadership Selection Process
A leadership vote for the new Conservative Party will be held March 19-21, 2004. Candidates
for the leadership vote must pay $100,000 by January 30, 2004. Half the amount is an
administration fee, while the remaining $50,000 is a refundable deposit that will be
held to ensure compliance of the rules and good conduct of the candidates.
The method used to elect the leader of the new party is based on the system used by
the former Progressive Conservative Party. It based on the votes of ridings or constituency
associations that have equal weight in the selection process. This differs from the
method used by the former Canadian Alliance Party, which was based on individual members
who voted directly for a leader on a national level.
Details of the leadership election process of the new Conservative party are as follows:
- Every member of the Conservative Party of Canada as of February 29, 2004, will
be entitled to a vote in the selection of the party leader.
- Members do not vote together nationally, but through their ridings or constituency
associations.
- Each riding, no matter how many members it has, is given equal weighting in selecting
the leader. For example, each riding is given 100 points. The points of each riding
are allocated based on the number of votes a candidate receives in that riding. If
a candidate receives 25% of the vote in that riding, they will receive 25 of the riding’s
points.
- The national point total for each candidate is calculated by adding all of his
or her points from each riding. The candidate with the most national points is then
elected leader of the party.
Conservative
Party Leadership Election Rules [PDF]
Who’s In the Leadership Contest
Stephen Harper
Born: 1959 in Toronto, Ontario
Political Affiliation: Canadian Alliance
Background:
Beginning his career as a PC parliamentary assistant, Harper left to become one of the
founding members of the Reform Party. Elected as a Reform MP in 1993, Harper subsequently
left Reform to found the National Citizen’s Coalition. He returned to contest the leadership
of the CA in 2002, defeating then leader Stockwell Day.
Stephen Harper Official Campaign Website
Tony Clement
Born: Manchester, England, in 1961. He would later immigrate
to Canada with his family at the age of four.
Political Affiliation: Ontario Progressive Conservative Party
Background:
Clement began his political career with Make Harris and the “Common Sense”
revolution of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. He was first elected to the
Ontario legislature in 1995. He served as Minister of Transportation, Minister of the
Environment, and Minister of Health. In 2002, he lost a bid to be leader of the Ontario
PC Party, and in 2003 lost his seat in the Liberal election win.
Tony Clement Official Campaign Website
Belinda Stronach
Born: Newmarket, Ontario, in 1966.
Political Affiliation: Supported the United Alternative in
1999 and 2000 and was involved in the creation of the new Conservative Party.
Background: Served on the board of directors of auto-parts
maker Magna International. Later became president and CEO of the company in 2002. Acted
as a facilitator in the merging of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives.
Belinda Stronach Official Campaign Website
Who’s Out of the Leadership Contest
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Peter MacKay:
- The leader of the former Progressive Conservative Party was thought to be automatic
candidate for leader of the new party. However, MacKay publicly stayed aloof from
the possibility and eventually announced he will not run for leader. However, MacKay
did state that he would seek re-election to the Parliament in the next election as
a Conservative Party candidate.
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Jim Prentice:
- In December 2003, Jim Prentice, a longtime supporter of the Progressive Conservative
Party, announced his intention to run for leader of the new party. However, in January
2004, Pretence withdrew from the leadership contest, citing an inability to raise
sufficient financial support for a leadership bid.
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Mike Harris:
- Several key conservative figures had encouraged former Ontario premier and leader
of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Mike Harris to run for leader of the
new party. However, in November 2003, Harris announced that he would not campaign,
citing his continued desire to be retired from politics.
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Bernard Lord:
- New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord had been rumoured to be interested in the leadership
of the new federal Conservative Party. However, in December 2003, Lord publicly announced
his intention not to run, citing his desire to pursue public service by continuing
as premier of New Brunswick.
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Chuck Stahl:
- Canadian Alliance MP Chuck Strahl had hinted at campaigning for leader of the new
party. However, in January 2004, he formally announced his decision not to run. Strahl
cited the lack of financial support to mount a successful campaign.
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