Tory Leadership Race: Poilievre, Lewis In. Charest, Brown Set to Announce
The race to replace former Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole is in full swing. The Conservative Party announced that a new leader will be named on September 10, 2022, making it a longer leadership race than many expected.
Candidates will have to submit their applications by April 19, 2022, along with significant entry fees and a $100,000.00 deposit. All contenders will be able to sell memberships until June 3, 2022.
The Frontrunner: Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre was the first to announce his candidacy about a month ago, with his announcement video garnering unprecedented social media attention, with hundreds of thousands of viewers across the country. Poilievre is widely considered to be the frontrunner in the raceand has already amassed the endorsements of over 35 sitting Conservative MPs, including the endorsement of former Leader Andrew Scheer. At 43, he already has close to two decades of experience in the House of Commons and served as a junior Minister in the Harper government. Poilievre announced four campaign co-chairs, including former Foreign Minister John Baird and Edmonton MP Tim Uppal.
The Social Conservative Standard-Bearer: Leslyn Lewis
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Lewis first came to public attention in the last Conservative leadership race, where she surprised many critics. Despite never having been elected to public office, Lewis ran a widely-acclaimed campaign, both relying on an extensive network of social conservative voters with pro-family policies while also appealing to the moderate wing of the Party through her calls for renewed civility in Canadian politics. This time around, Lewis enters the race as an elected Member of Parliament with more name recognition and a leadership race under her belt. Observers agree she has a real chance at winning, or at the very least, of playing “King-maker”.
The Question Mark: Jean Charest
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At 63, Jean Charest still wants back in the game. By age 28, he was already a cabinet minister in Brian Mulroney’s government, going on to serve as Deputy Prime Minister in Kim Campbell’s short-lived government and then to lead the Progressive Conservative Party after Campbell’s disastrous election result, leaving the PCs with two seats. Charest transition from federal conservative politics to lead the Quebec Liberal Party is heralded as a national unity move by some, but as deeply questionable by others, especially the right flank of the Party that questions his conservative bona fides.
Charest will face no shortage of criticisms: from his environmental policies, to his difficult relationship as Quebec Premier with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to his advocacy work on behalf of Huawei, a Chinese state-owned enterprise. Still, Charest is a formidable campaigner, and no stranger to difficult political street fights. He has been endorsed by a handful of Conservative MPs, mostly from Quebec. His recent reception at the Chateau Laurier drew more Conservative MPs than expected. Charest is set to announce his candidacy tomorrow in Calgary, a tactically shrewd move to preemptively address potential concerns regarding his viability in Western Canada.
The Comeback Kid: Patrick Brown
Patrick Brown is another political lifer, who ironically served as PC Youth Federation President when Charest was PC Leader. Since then, Brown went on to become a Barrie city councillor (while attending law school) and a federal MP. When Brown decided to run for the leadership of the Ontario PC Party, few took his candidacy seriously, especially against the more experienced Christine Elliott, who was poised to win in a landslide. Through relentless old-fashioned political organizing, Brown staged an upset victory with staggering membership sales and unexpected strength from Ontario’s cultural communities. Brown’s tenure as PC Leader was sabotaged by a series of negative news articles, which led to his resignation. Now a married father of two, the Mayor of Brampton is hankering for a comeback. Just today, CTV News announced that Brown’s $8-million lawsuit was settled, with the news organization admitting its wrongdoing. Many conservatives who may not otherwise subscribe to Brown’s centrist policies (including the carbon tax) may nonetheless find inspiration in his unique story of resilience and redemption.
