Quebec’s 78 ridings ‘extremely important’ in Conservative leadership race: low membership numbers, easier to campaign in and lots of influence
Quebec’s 78 ridings will be “extremely important” in the outcome of the May 27 Conservative Party leadership race, say Conservatives. The ridings have low membership numbers, which make it easier to campaign in, but also have lots of influence compared to ridings in Western Canada and major urban centres where each Electoral District Association (EDA) could have more […]
Trump’s dairy offensive triggers barbs in Conservative leadership race
U.S. President Donald Trump’s shot at Canada’s dairy industry provided some fodder for Conservative leadership candidates to fight about last week. After Mr. Trump promised something would be done in reaction to what he called “very unfair” practices in Canada’s supply-managed dairy sector, Conservative leadership candidate Maxime Bernier wrote an open letter to the U.S. […]
Policy failure in Conservative Party leadership race
Re: “Conservative MPs criticize Gilmore for floating Conservative Party shakeup, take aim at his marriage to Liberal minister,” (The Hill Times, April 12, p. 1). On May 27, the Conservatives will elect their new leader. As a non-partisan Canadian, I am very disappointed with the far-right social policies proposed by the candidates and agree with Scott […]
Conservative MPs shouldn’t get their knickers in a knot over Scott Gilmore’s cross-country dinner tour
OTTAWA—Last week in these pages, a few Conservative MPs had their knickers in a twist because Maclean’s columnist Scott Gilmore proposed the idea of having a conversation about the state of the Conservative Party. Gilmore, an apparent Conservative Party member and spouse of federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, was lambasted by some for his intentions. They […]
The campaigners
Members of the Conservative Party of Canada are gearing up to choose their next leader on May 27. With 14 contenders vying to replace interim leader Rona Ambrose, candidates and their teams are making a last-ditch effort to get their messages out during the race’s final stretch. The party kicked off the leadership race in […]
Digital campaigns say they’ve convinced thousands to try to swing Conservative leadership contest to the centre
A network of amateur, online political campaigns is preparing to release a mock ballot for the Conservative leadership race to thousands of supporters in the party, in an effort to swing the contest away from candidates Kellie Leitch, Kevin O’Leary, and social conservatives in the race. Organizers behind the digital campaigns, involving websites, social media accounts, and […]
Raitt campaign reaching out to members in leadership race final stretch
One of only two women in the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Conservative MP Lisa Raitt is focused on reaching out and speaking to “as many members as possible” by phone and in person in the lead-up to the May leadership convention, says campaign manager Jessica Oliver. “She’s on […]
Prime Minister Trudeau preferred leader to guide country ‘through a major crisis’: poll
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals would be supported by 38 per cent of the population if an election were held today, compared to 29 per cent for the Conservatives and 19 per cent for the New Democrats, according to a Campaign Research survey of 1,970 people. The Liberals are also most popular with 18-24 year olds (45 per […]
Conservative leadership race enters ‘horse-trading phase’ and candidates are making deals
With the Conservative leadership campaign in the home stretch, candidates and their top strategists are now reaching out to Parliamentarians, rival leadership candidates’ campaign officials and supporters, and building alliances for second-, third-, and subsequent-ballot support as none of the 14 candidates is likely to win on the first ballot in this close contest. “The […]
Rejection of electoral reform may prove catastrophic for Trudeau and Liberals, says Ottawa reader
Re: “Disappointed by Trudeau’s broken promise on electoral reform,” (The Hill Times, letter to the editor) and “Liberals concerned about PMO’s handling of electoral reform and cash for access issues,” (The Hill Times, Feb. 13, by Derek Abma and Abbas Rana.) Of Canada’s three major political parties—Liberal, Conservative, the NDP—and two minor parties—the Bloc, the […]
