The 2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election was held on May 27, 2017. Party members chose Andrew Scheer as leader, replacing Stephen Harper, who led the Conservative Party of Canada as its leader from 2004 following the merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties. Harper led the party through five federal elections: the party increased its seat count in the House of Commons in 2004, formed two minority governments in 2006, and 2008, and then a majority government in 2011. Following the defeat of the party in the 2015 federal election on October 19, Harper tendered his resignation as party leader.[3] In a statement, Conservative Party President John Walsh said he had spoken to Harper, "and he has instructed me to reach out to the newly elected parliamentary caucus to appoint an interim Leader and to implement the leadership selection process."[3]
259,010 party members were eligible to vote in the leadership contest.[4] 141,000 members cast a vote. According to raw voting figures, Scheer received 62,593 votes on the final ballot compared to 55,544 votes for Bernier with 23,000 voters who had voted in the first round ranking neither Scheer or Bernier in their ranked ballot. Votes were apportioned among ridings so that each riding was allocated 100 points, regardless of the number of voters, resulting in 17,222.20 points (50.95%) for Scheer and 16,577.80 points (49.05%) for Bernier.[5]
Subsequent to the election, fourth placed candidate Brad Trost and his campaign were fined $50,000 by the Conservative Party of Canada for allegedly leaking the party's membership list to the National Firearms Association. Trost denied that he or any of his staff leaked the list.[6] On February 11, 2019, the Conservative Party released a statement from its Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) which concluded: "In short, LEOC does not believe there is evidence that the Trost Campaign was responsible for leaking of the membership list...."[7] The fine was therefore removed from the Brad Trost Campaign. Trost went on to lose renomination as the party candidate for his riding during the 43rd Federal election on March 10, 2018, to Corey Tochor, former speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature.[8]
Criticism has been raised about how the party memberships were handled, with some prominent members saying they never received a ballot, even after contacting the party about it.[9]
In addition, the result of the leadership race and party handling was questioned by some supporters of such as runner-up Maxime Bernier and fifth place candidate Kellie Leitch due to discrepancies in the final ballot count, specifically a gap between the number of ballots cast and the announced result – a 7,466 vote discrepancy, which is greater than Andrew Scheer's 7,049 votes margin of victory in the final round. There was criticism over the exact role of the accounting firm Deloitte during the voting process – a deal revealed that Deloitte was not specifically tasked with auditing the vote but "observe" the counting process.[10][11] It was also reported that some of Brad Trost's supporters contravened the Elections Act and party membership rules by offering incentives to vote. Dimitri Soudas, a former Stephen Harper aide, pointed out that it violated election rules and it benefited Scheer's campaign but the ballots have been destroyed so the results stood.[12]
Many considered Scheer's victory as an upset, given Bernier's consistent frontrunner status in the polls.[13]
Interim leadership
Conservative Party president John Walsh's letter to caucus stated that only Members of Parliament (MPs) would vote for the interim leader, but Conservative Senators pointed out that the party constitution states that the entire parliamentary caucus votes.[14][15] The caucus allowed senators to vote, declining to adopt the provisions of the Reform Act that would have only allowed MPs to vote.[16][17]
Under the party's constitution, Ambrose, as the interim leader, could not run for the permanent position.[22]
Leadership election timing
Following Harper's resignation, debate emerged within the Conservative Party regarding the timing of the leadership election. Some members of the party's national council called for a leadership convention as early as May 2016 according to Maclean's magazine.[25] However, interim leader Rona Ambrose said there was a consensus among the party's caucus that the leadership election should not be rushed and should be held sometime in 2017.[26][27][28] In a December 2015 interview, Ambrose said the party would take its time allowing all members, including those not already involved in politics, to build a strong candidacy. "If we take a little extra time, that will mean we'll have a better leadership race."[29]
The Conservative Party's Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) met at Toronto's Albany Club January 15–17, 2016 to discuss the process for the Party to elect its next leader. Among its decisions, LEOC selected May 27, 2017, for Conservative Party members to elect their next leader.[30]
Rules and voting system
Only party members in good standing at 5pm Eastern Time on March 28, 2017, were allowed to vote.[2][31] The fee for a party membership was raised from $15 to $25, an increase that was reversed on April 23, 2016, after criticisms that the move was "elitist".[32] Membership fees could only be paid via personal cheque or credit card. Cash payments were not permitted. This new requirement was intended to prevent the election being dominated by new members, and to prevent anyone other than the individual member, such as a candidate's campaign, from signing up scores of members and paying the membership fees in cash out of campaign funds.[33] Despite this, the Conservative Party confirmed irregularities with 1,351 memberships connected to prepaid credit cards that it subsequently struck from its membership roll.[34]
Voting was on a one member one vote basis using a ranked ballot; however votes were calculated so that each electoral district had equal weight with each electoral district allocated 100 points.[35] Candidates were assigned a point total based on his or her percentage of the vote in each electoral district. To win, a candidate must receive at least 16,901 points which would be a majority.[2][36]
be members of the party for at least six months (can be waived),
submit nomination forms signed by 300 party members from at least 30 electoral districts in at least seven different provinces and territories,
pay a $50,000 non-refundable entrance fee, half of which must be paid when filing nomination with the other half due by the close of nominations on February 24, 2017.[37][38]
pay an additional $50,000 compliance deposit, by December 31, 2016, or when filing nomination for those who register in 2017, which is refundable provided the candidate complies with campaign rules.[37][38]
and fill out a 40-page questionnaire that asks for:
references,
criminal background and credit checks,
agreement with basic party principles,
a list of social media accounts,
questions about possible controversial positions the candidate has taken in the past, and
questions about affiliations and personal associations and behaviour that may be problematic.
A party committee reviewed the candidate's nomination form and may disqualify a potential candidate.[39] Candidates are allowed to spend a maximum of $5 million on their campaigns.[40]
October 19, 2015 – Federal election results in defeat of Conservative government. As Harper spoke to supporters in Calgary, making no reference to his future, a statement was released by the party announcing Harper's resignation as party leader and his request that an interim leader be chosen to lead the party in parliament until a leadership election can be held.[3]
November 4, 2015 – Harper resigns as prime minister; Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau sworn in.[41]
November 5, 2015 – Conservative caucus held its first meeting since the 2015 federal election[42] and chose former health minister[43]Rona Ambrose interim leader of the party.[14]
December 4–5, 2015 – National Council meets, 20-member Leadership Election Organization Committee appointed, including seven members of the National Council and MP Diane Finley, all of whom have pledged to be neutral during the leadership campaign; Dan Nowlan is appointed the committee's chair.[26][27]
January 15–17, 2016 – The Leadership Election Organization Committee meets at the Albany Club in Toronto to decide on the date of the leadership vote, the deadline for candidates to be nominated, campaign spending limits, the entrance fee for candidates and the appeals process for any disputes.[44]
May 26–28, 2016 – Conservative Party national policy convention, held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, voted on policy resolutions and elected the party president and other officials.[27] An attempt to change the party constitution to allow the party's interim leader, Rona Ambrose, to seek the permanent leadership is defeated.[45]
September 12, 2016 – Former Foreign Minister Peter MacKay, who had been leading public opinion polls as the most popular potential leader, announces that he will not be a candidate for the party's leadership.
November 2, 2016 – Only those who have registered as candidates by this date, including having paid at least $25,000 of the candidate deposit, are permitted to participate in the first leadership debate, to be held the following week. 12 candidates meet this deadline.[46]
November 9, 2016 – First of five official leadership debates organized by the LEOC, held in Saskatoon.[47]
November 13, 2016 – Leadership debate organized by the Carleton Conservative Association, held in Greely, Ontario[48]
December 6, 2016 – Second official debate held in Moncton in English and French.[49]
December 31, 2016 – Deadline for candidates who filed their nomination papers in 2016 to have paid $50,000 compliance fee.[37]
January 17, 2017, 6:30 pm – Third official debate held in Quebec City in French at the Quebec Convention Centre. The themes covered will be government and taxes.[50][51]
February 4, 2017 – Leadership debate organized by the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The first debate involving well-known businessman Kevin O'Leary.[52]
February 24, 2017, 5pm ET (UTC-5) – Nomination period closes; deadline for candidates to pay any remaining balance of entrance fee.[2]
February 24, 2017 – Leadership debate organized by the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, held in Ottawa, Ontario[53]
February 28, 2017 – Fourth official debate, held in Edmonton at the Maclab Theatre in English and French.[50]
March 28, 2017, 5pm ET (UTC-4) – Members who have joined by this date are eligible to vote.[2]
April 26, 2017 – Presumed frontrunner Kevin O'Leary withdraws from the election and endorses Maxime Bernier; as O'Leary has withdrawn after the deadline, his name remains on the ballot. Final leadership debate is held.[54]
May 26, 2017, 5pm ET (UTC-5) – Deadline for mail-in ballots to be received.[55]
May 27, 2017 – In-person voting at Toronto Congress Centre and 14 polling stations across the country until 4 pm ET (UTC-5).[56] Advance and in-person ballots counted; results announced.[30][57]
Chris Alexander, 48, is the former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2013–2015), Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence (2011– 2013)[59] and the former MP for Ajax—Pickering, Ontario (2011–2015). Prior to entering politics, he served as a member of Canada's foreign diplomatic service, most notably in the Canadian Embassy in Moscow and as the Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005.[60] From 2005 to 2009 he held the post of Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Afghanistan.[61] In addition to English, he is fluent in both French and Russian languages.[62][63]
Chris Alexander has 40 detailed published policies that fall into three main categories: New Economy, New Country and New Role. These policies include how Canada should approach: employment, taxation, innovation, families, education, competitiveness, energy self-reliance, cities, agriculture, poverty, homelessness, First Nations peoples, the Métis, refugees, the Monarchy, justice, health care, protecting wilderness, forestry, mining, international diplomacy, terrorism, democratic reform, cyber-security, Canadian culture, northern development, and national defence.[66]
He believes that immigration is the key to "economic growth."[59] Is proposing to increase immigration to 400,000 a year[59] including 40,000 refugees and calling for doubling defence spending and "for an accelerated push to settle all outstanding land claims and to sign treaties with First Nations communities that would empower them to govern themselves".[64] Was prominent in the Conservative government's handling of the Syrian refugee crisis and in the government's promise during the 2015 election to create a telephone tip line to report so-called "barbaric cultural practices."[67] As minister, he was criticized over delays in meeting the government's commitment to resettle Syrian refugees.[68]
Louis-Charles Fortier (Conservative Party National Councillor for Quebec, 2015-2016)[99]Stanley Hartt (Chief of Staff, Prime Minister's Office 1989–1990),[99]
Running a campaign based on individual freedom, personal responsibility, respect and fairness.[141] Expects support around the ideas/policies he is placing in the campaigns.[142]
Calls for smaller government, lower taxes everywhere, paying down the national debt, increasing investments, increase pipeline developments, and opening up markets. Opposes bailout to any corporation, and use of "corporate welfare" (business subsidies). Supports the decriminalization/legalization of marijuana[143] Wants to allow MPs to vote their conscience and get rid of omnibus bills.[144]
Phasing control of Canada Health Transfer to the provinces for health care by replacing it with a health transfer point systems, encourage provinces to move away from a single-payer healthcare system to a two-tier healthcare system, balance the budget within two years then reduce the number of tax brackets from five to three, increase basic exemption from $11,474 to $15,000 being paid by "boutique" tax credits. Supports abolishing capital gains taxes, and lowering corporate taxes to 10% by getting rid of corporate welfare.[145][146][147][148]
He also wants to "break" Quebec's maple syrup cartel and wants to allow foreign ownership for the airline industry.[59] He wants to "streamline the process for hiring specialized workers abroad".[68] He wants to put more emphasis on economic immigration and "slightly reduce" family reunification class immigration.[68] More privately sponsored refugee and fewer government sponsored.[68] Reform temporary foreign worker programs.[153] Bernier believes first nation communities need to be consulted before the Indian Act needs to be "abolished, or changed."[154] Opposes federal control overreaching into other jurisdictions.[155] Create stricter foreign aid standards and phase out development aid.[156][157]
Steven Blaney, 52, was the Shadow Minister of Public Works and Government Services (2015–2016) for the Conservative Opposition, and is the former Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (2013–2015), Minister of Veterans Affairs (2011–2013). He is the MP for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, Quebec (2015–present) and Lévis—Bellechasse, Quebec (2006–2015).
Supports banning the wearing of the niqab while voting, taking the citizenship oath, or by federal public servants,[59] even if such a ban would require invoking the notwithstanding clause of the Constitution in order to override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[161] Also advocates testing of would be citizens on "their understanding and appreciation of Canada's core principles."[162] He wants to "beef up" screening.[68] The number of immigrants he wants to bring in will be based upon labour-market studies.[68]
Michael Chong, 45, is the MP for Wellington—Halton Hills, Ontario (2004–present) and was the Deputy Shadow Minister of the Environment (2015–2016). He was Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth (2006)[59] and Minister of Sport (2006). Chong resigned from the Harper cabinet in 2006 to protest the government's recognition of the Québécois as a nation within Canada.[59] As a backbench MP he advocated democratic reforms in Parliament to limit the power of the Prime Minister's Office and party leaders over their caucuses and individual MPs and introduced the Reform Act to give caucuses the option of the power to remove party leaders, elect caucus chairs, and expel or readmit MPs, and elect interim leaders.[16][163][164][165] He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party at the time of the merger.[59]
Advocates modernizing democratic institutions and strengthening the independence of MPs and parliamentary committees.[166]
Calls for the privatization of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) mortgage insurance and securitization business, a measure he says will make housing more affordable in Canada.[196]
Supports introducing a revenue neutral carbon tax. Chong's plan would phase in a carbon tax over a decade, while immediately cutting taxes by $18 billion and getting rid of green regulations and subsidies.[197][198]
Believes that Canada needs an evidence-based immigration policy that would put economic interests at the forefront. He has criticized face-to-face values screening as a divisive tactic.[68]
Supports the decriminalization, but not legalization, of marijuana.[218][219] Opposes a national tax on carbon emissions.[220] Has suggested screening prospective immigrants using a "Canadian values" test.[67] Described Donald J. Trump's win of the American presidency as an "exciting message and one that we need delivered in Canada as well."[221] Urged by hundreds of health professionals to honour her medical oath and work against Canada's controversial asbestos industry,[222] remained silent on the issue.[223] Calls for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to be defunded and dismantled with the exception of the provision of emergency services to rural and remote parts of Canada.[224]
Pierre Lemieux, 54, is the former MP for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Ontario (2006–2015). In the Harper government he was the Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages (2007–2008), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture (2008–2015), and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs (2015).[225]
Running as a social conservative, highlighting his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage.[59][225] Lemieux does not believe that screening potential immigration candidates to Canada would make Canada any safer.[68] In March 2017, Pierre Lemieux received a rating of C− from the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights for his policies on firearms ownership in Canada.[228]
Deepak Obhrai, 66, was the MP for Calgary Forest Lawn, Alberta (2015–2019), and represented Calgary East, Alberta (1997–2015), was Shadow Minister of International Development (2015–2016), and was the Dean of the Conservative Caucus. In the Harper government he was the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs (2006–2015).[229][230][231] Obhrai was a member of the Canadian Alliance at the time of the merger.
Advocates a more inclusive party.[232] Had promised to withdraw in favour of Peter MacKay if he were to run.[232] He wants to increase the number of privately sponsored refugees and cut the number of government-sponsored refugees.[68]
Erin O'Toole, 44, is the MP for Durham, Ontario (2012–present) and was Shadow Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (2015–2016) for the Conservative Party in Opposition. Previously, he served as Minister of Veterans Affairs (2015).[237][238]
O'Toole policies wants to give tax credits for youth underemployment and student debt.[59] He wants to restructure temporary foreign worker and provincial nominee programs.[59]
Advocates a flat federal income tax rate of 15% and eliminating corporate income taxes and[288] raising the GST to 9%.[291][292] Supports boosting terrorist surveillance and enhance security screening for immigrants.[288]
Advocates offering citizenship to almost 250,000 skilled workers a year by 2022, triple today's levels, and to 35,000 business people, more than five times today's level while freezing refugee integration to the levels of Harper Era.[293]
Would reform health care provincial transfer payments and equalization payments.[294]
Calls for Canada Revenue Agency to withdraw from Quebec and to transfer the administration and collection of the income tax in the province to Revenue Quebec.[295]
Would take Canada out of the UN firearms marking scheme and to allow open carry of restricted firearms in the bush.[296] Received a rating of C− from the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights for his policies[297] and a rating of C from the National Firearms Association.[298]
Opposes Leitch's proposal to screen immigrants for "anti-Canadian values".[329] She will "introduce balanced budgets, repeal carbon pricing legislation and prioritize the development of Canada's natural resources."[59]
Firearms policy. In March 2017, Raitt received a rating of C+ from the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights for her policies on firearms ownership in Canada.[297] In April, she received a rating of D from the National Firearms Association.[298]
Running as an "unapologetic" Conservative who can unite all wings of the party.[379][380] He is "committed" to lower taxes,[59] fiscal responsibility,[59] and "compassion". Scheer believes that there should be a "more robust screening process."[381] Scheer is pro-life, but doesn't intend to bring any legislation on the topic.[381] Scheer advocates for immigration based process, economic indicators, and "what our society needs."[68]
Brad Trost, 43, was the MP for Saskatoon—University, (2015–2019) and Saskatoon—Humboldt (2004–2015) previously. He was appointed Official Opposition Critic for Canada-U.S. Relations (2015–2016) following the 2015 election. Prior to election, Trost worked as an exploration geophysicist (prospector) in natural resources extraction in the north. He was also an active participant in his family's mixed grain, oilseeds and beef cattle farm operation. In his first Parliament, he founded the Conservative Party Energy Caucus and pushed for the re-creation of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. He has served on the Standing Committees on International Trade and on Industry, and was elected vice-chair of the Canada-U.S. Parliamentary Association.[382]
Running as a social conservative, opposes a carbon tax, transgender bathrooms, tax increases generally, assisted suicide and abortion, deficit financing, and legalization of marijuana. Has been outspoken against abortion and against same-sex marriage and argued unsuccessfully at the 2016 Conservative policy convention to retain the party's definition of marriage as "the Union of one man and one woman".[385][386] Advocates privatization of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.[387]
Said he would bring in coherent environmental policies in the wake of the Paris climate change accord, end government subsidies to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.[389] Withdrew after he was unable to meet fundraising targets he'd set for his campaign.[390]
Withdrew after he was unable to fundraise enough money to meet December 31 deadline for paying the party the $50,000 leadership campaign compliance fee.[37][400] Later endorsed Erin O'Toole.[284]
Kevin O'Leary, 69, is a businessman, investor, journalist, writer, financial commentator and Emmy award-winning television personality.[72][402][403][404]
O'Leary supported using a "big stick" federally in order to bring provincial governments in-line with federal policies, cutting waste in military spending, supports a peacekeeping role for the military, cutting carbon emissions through criminal sanctions rather than a carbon tax, supports current immigration policy but also wishes to "fast-track" the citizenship applications of skilled immigrants,[416][417] asserted he would support LGBTQI people, legalize marijuana and defend reproductive rights.[35]
O'Leary withdrew from the election despite polls showing he was the frontrunner. He stated that while he believed he could win the leadership election, he would be unable to defeat Justin Trudeau in the next federal election due to his inability to speak French fluently and his lack of support in Quebec. He endorsed Maxime Bernier.[54] As his withdrawal took place after the deadline, O'Leary remained on the final leadership ballot.
Adrienne Snow
Background
Adrienne Snow, 49, Toronto-based communications consultant, former director of policy for National Foundation for Family Research and Education. Former executive director of Centre for the Study of Civic Renewal. Announced on August 23, 2016, that she intended to be a candidate but failed to register and announced in January that she was ending her campaign.[419]
Gérard Deltell – Quebec lieutenant and Shadow Finance Minister (2016–present), Shadow Minister of Employment and Workforce Labour (2015–2016), MP for Louis-Saint-Laurent, Quebec (2015–present), Quebec MNA for Chauveau (2008–2015) and leader of the Action démocratique du Québec (2009–2012).[428] Endorsed O'Toole.
Dianne Watts – Shadow Minister of Infrastructure & Communities (2015–present), MP for South Surrey—White Rock, British Columbia (2015–present), Mayor of Surrey (2004–2015)[8] Endorsed O'Toole.
Opinion polling
Some of the polls below were conducted before nominations for the leadership closed and therefore include potential candidates for the leadership race. Rona Ambrose, as interim leader, is ineligible to run for the permanent leadership unless there is a change to the party's constitution.
Conservative Party members
Conservative Leadership Polling of Conservative Members by Mainstreet Research.
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