1998 Progressive Conservative Party leadership election
← 1995 October 24 & November 14, 1998 2003 →
  PC
Candidate Joe Clark David Orchard Hugh Segal
Second ballot points 23,321
(77.5%) 		6,779
(22.5%) 		Withdrew
First ballot points 14,592
(48.5%) 		4,916
(16.3%) 		5,689
(18.9%)
 
Candidate Brian Pallister Michael Fortier
Second ballot points Withdrew Eliminated
First ballot points 3,676
(12.2%) 		1,227
(4.1%)
Leader before election

Elsie Wayne (interim)

 Elected Leader

Joe Clark

1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election
DateFirst ballot:
October 24, 1998
Second ballot:
November 14, 1998
ConventionOttawa[1]
Resigning leaderJean Charest
Won byJoe Clark
Ballots2
Candidates5
Entrance FeeC$30,000
Spending limitNone
Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
1927 · 1938 · 1942 · 1948 · 1956 · 1967 · 1976 · 1983 · 1993 · 1995 · 1998 · 2003

The 1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election was held on October 24 and November 14, 1998 to choose a successor to Jean Charest. This was the first time the Progressive Conservatives used a one member, one vote system to choose a leader rather than a delegated leadership convention, which has been the norm since 1927. The 1998 election used a point system that allocated 100 points to each riding, regardless of the number of votes cast in the riding. The candidate who won a majority of points (not necessarily a majority of voters) would win the leadership. All party members were eligible to cast a vote. If no candidate received a majority of points on the first ballot, the lowest ranking candidate would be automatically eliminated and a second ballot was to be held using a preferential ballot if more than two candidates remained.[2] The 100-point-per-riding system was again used by the Conservative Party of Canada in their leadership elections.

Background

The Progressive Conservatives had formed two back-to-back majority governments under Brian Mulroney from 1984 to 1993 but in the 1993 federal election under leader Kim Campbell, the party had almost been completely wiped out. The rise of the Bloc Québécois in Quebec, led by former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Lucien Bouchard, and the conservative Reform Party in Western Canada caused the PCs to lose their electoral base. Charest, the runner up to Campbell in the 1993 leadership convention was one of only two PC MPs elected in 1993 and became party leader. Under his leadership, the party won 20 seats in the 1997 federal election but still placed fifth. By 1998, Bouchard had become leader of the provincial Parti Québécois and had promised a further Quebec referendum on independence should there be "winning conditions". With the opposition Quebec Liberal Party seeking a new leader, Charest was under considerable public and political pressure,[3] especially among business circles, to leave federal politics and become leader of the Quebec Liberal Party as he was considered the best hope among federalists to defeat the PQ. Charest announced on March 28, 1998 that he was resigning as federal Progressive Conservative leader in order to seek the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.[4]

The Progressive Conservatives, meanwhile, after two successive electoral defeats were under pressure from a Unite the Right movement for the Progressive Conservatives to co-operate with the Reform Party of Canada; Manitoba Tory cabinet minister Brian Pallister, Major-General Lewis MacKenzie, former Reform MP Stephen Harper, former Manitoba premier Gary Filmon, Alberta premier Ralph Klein, and former Alberta treasurer Jim Dinning were all encouraged to run as Unite the Right candidates for leader - with Pallister proceeding to do so.[5][6] Conversely, the movement was resisted by Red Tories who sought a standard-bearer who would keep the party independent.

Timeline

Candidates

Results

Points by ballot
Candidate First Ballot
October 24 		Second Ballot
November 14
Points % Points %
CLARK, Charles Joseph (Joe) 14,592 48.5% 23,321 77.5%
ORCHARD, David 4,916 16.3% 6,779 22.5%
SEGAL, Hugh 5,689 18.9% Endorsed Clark
PALLISTER, Brian William 3,676 12.2% Endorsed Clark
FORTIER, Michael M. 1,227 4.1% Endorsed Clark
Total 30,100 100.0% 30,100 100.0%
First round
Clark
 
 48.48%
Segal
 
 18.90%
Orchard
 
 16.33%
Pallister
 
 12.21%
Fortier
 
 4.08%
Final round
Clark
 
 77.48%
Orchard
 
 22.52%

Fortier was automatically eliminated; as Clark had only narrowly fallen short of a majority and had a wide lead over his closest opponent, Pallister and Segal withdrew and endorsed Clark for the sake of party unity and to forestall running up campaign debts needlessly.[17] Orchard refused to do so and went on to the second ballot.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "CPAC - for the Record".
  2. ^ "Tories forced back on campaign trail". Toronto Star. October 25, 1998.
  3. ^ The Canadian Press, "Charest takes Liberal reins: New leader heaps scorn on Quebec separatists," Calgary Herald May 1, 1998, pg. A.4.
  4. ^ a b "Thursday's the day for J ean Charest". Globe and Mail. March 24, 1998.
  5. ^ "Harper rejects run at Tory leadership: Won't burn bridges with Reformers". Globe and Mail. April 10, 1998.
  6. ^ "Tory group seeks Segal alternatives: Harper, Dinning said to be considering taking a run at federal Conservative leadership". Globe and Mail. April 9, 1998.
  7. ^ "Charest calls for solidarity: Federal Tory Leader steps into Quebec Liberal ring and takes immediate aim at Bouchard". Globe and Mail. March 27, 1998.
  8. ^ "'Tory leadership conventions go way of dinosaur: New chief to be chosen Oct. 24 using system that gives each party member one vote". Globe and Mail. April 30, 1998.
  9. ^ "'Ultimate insider' Segal officially enters Tory leadership race: Strategist says it's time to stop apologizing for Mulroney-era mistakes and time to start talking about 'things we did that were right'". Globe and Mail. June 10, 1998.
  10. ^ "Manitoban joins Tory leadership race: Former provincial minister Brian Pallister. 43, savs he offers bridge between East. West". Globe and Mail. June 11, 1998.
  11. ^ "Clark launches bid for a comeback: Former PM stresses experience, goal of bringing Canadians together in joining Tory leadership race". Globe and Mail. June 26, 1998.
  12. ^ a b "Antifree-trade crusader joins Tory leadership race: Candidate vows to continue fight against NAFTA, globalization". Globe and Mail. July 23, 1998.
  13. ^ a b c "Federal Tory leadership race heating up: Montreal lawyer, former Manitoba cabinet minister throw hats into ring as nomination deadline looms". Globe and Mail. July 28, 1998.
  14. ^ a b "Segal gets his money down as first official entrant: Move gives Conservative leadership candidate head start through access to party's membership lists". Globe and Mail. July 19, 1998.
  15. ^ a b "Clark expected to hint tonight about Tory race: Final touches on former PM's campaign being made before June 25 announcement". Globe and Mail. June 17, 1998.
  16. ^ "Federal Tories take aim at Chretien: Leadership candidates make final pitches for party support in Toronto speeches". Globe and Mail. October 24, 1998.
  17. ^ "Segal urged to end internal strife by yielding Tory crown to Clark: But former prime minister could face second-ballot battle against free-trade opponent Orchard, who is unlikely to abandon race". Globe and Mail. October 27, 1998.

See also

Categories