The 2018 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election will be held on March 10, 2018 due to the resignation of party leader Patrick Brown on January 25, 2018 following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Brown's resignation occurred less than five months before the next provincial election must be held. While a typical leadership contest in Canada takes approximately 12-18 months, this contest will have to be organized, run, and completed in less than 2 months. Further complicating matters, it comes on the heels of a year of disputed, controversial, and allegedly fraudulent nominations contests across the province for local PC candidates, although these allegations were disproven.
According to Article 23.1 of the PC party constitution, when there is a vacancy in the position of leader, the party caucus will choose an interim leader who will serve until a new leader is elected in a leadership election, which must be held within 18 months of the vacancy occurring, and in which all party members can vote. Party president Rick Dykstra told the media on January 25 that "a leadership election will take place at such time as the PC party shall determine in its discretion." The party executive met on January 26, 2018, following the caucus election, to determine whether to have a leadership election before the provincial election, and if so, how it will proceed, or whether to have the interim leader lead the party into the election and decided to call the leadership election for March 2018.
Video Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election, 2018
Rules and procedures
All party members are eligible to cast votes by preferential ballot using electronic balloting, provided that they are members in good standing by February 16, 2018. The vote will be weighted so that each of the province's ridings that has more than 100 votes cast are allocated 100 electoral votes; ridings in which fewer than 100 party members vote will not be weighted, but will instead have the votes counted as individual votes. The lowest ranked candidate will be dropped from the next round as ballots are counted, and the first candidate to get 50 per cent of the votes will be declared the new leader.
Candidates must be nominated by at least 100 party members, must agree to abide by the party's existing platform for the next election, and must either be a sitting MPP or have been vetted.
Maps Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election, 2018
Timeline
- January 24, 2018: Leader Patrick Brown holds an emergency press conference at 9:45 pm to deny allegations of sexual misconduct, 15 minutes before CTV News planned to break a story detailing allegations made by two women. The PC Caucus meets in a telephone conference call and demands Brown's resignation.
- January 25, 2018: Just before 1:30 AM, Brown issues a statement announcing his resignation as party leader but maintaining his innocence. Brown states his intention to remain an MPP.
- January 26, 2018:
- PC caucus unanimously elects Vic Fedeli as interim leader and Fedeli declares his candidacy for the permanent leadership
- The PC Party executive decides to hold a full-scale leadership election before the next provincial election and sets the date of the leadership election.
- January 28, 2018: Party president Rick Dykstra resigns shortly before Maclean's magazine publishes a story about him allegedly sexually assaulting an employee during his time as a federal MP.
- January 29, 2018: Doug Ford declares his candidacy.
- January 30, 2018: Fedeli withdraws from the contest.
- January 31, 2018: The party's executive decides on the timeline and rules for the leadership election.
- February 1, 2018: Christine Elliott declares her candidacy.
- February 4, 2018: Caroline Mulroney declares her candidacy.
- February 16, 2018:
- 5:00 pm - Deadline for candidates to file their nomination papers and pay the full $75,000 registration fee and $25,000 candidate compliance deposit.
- 11:59 pm - Deadline to become a member of the party and be eligible to vote.
- February 23, 2018, 5 pm: Deadline for candidates to withdraw their names from the ballot (candidates who withdraw after this date may still appear on the ballot).
- March 2-8, 2018: Voting period. Online balloting to be used. Voting ends at 9 pm on the last day of the voting period.
- March 10, 2018: Leadership votes counted and results announced.
- June 7, 2018: Fixed-date of the Ontario provincial election.
Interim leadership
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli was elected as interim leader by the PC parliamentary caucus in a unanimous vote on January 26, 2018.
Declared candidates
Christine Elliott
- Background
Christine Elliott, 62, is the former non-partisan Patient Ombudsman for Ontario (2016-2018), a past PC leadership candidate (2009 & 2015) and former MPP (Whitby--Ajax 2006-07, Whitby--Oshawa 2007-15). She is a lawyer by training, and is the widow of former Federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty.
- Date candidacy declared: February 1, 2018
- Endorsements
- MPPs: (3) Lorne Coe (Whitby--Oshawa), Randy Hillier (Lanark--Frontenac--Lennox and Addington), Jim Wilson (Simcoe--Grey)
- MPs: (1) Erin O'Toole (Durham)
- Senators:
- Municipal politicians: (2) Murray Fearrey (Reeve of Dysart et al), Bart Maves (Niagara Regional Councillor for Niagara Falls)
- Former MPPs:
- Former MPs:
- Former Senators:
- Former municipal politicians:
- Nominated candidates:
- Other prominent individuals:
- Organizations:
- Media:
- Policies:
Doug Ford
- Background
Doug Ford, 53, is a businessman and politician who is currently seeking the PC nomination in Etobicoke North for the upcoming June 2018 provincial election. Ford is the brother of former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, and son of former Etobicoke-Humber MPP Doug Ford Sr.. He is a former Toronto City Councillor (2010-2014) and former Toronto mayoral candidate (2014). Ford announced on February 1, 2018 that he would be devoting his energy to the leadership race and was no longer intending to run in the 2018 Toronto mayoral election.
- Date candidacy declared: January 29, 2018
- Endorsements
- MPPs: (1) Raymond Cho (Scarborough--Rouge River)
- MPs:
- Senators:
- Municipal politicians: (1) Michael Ford (Toronto City Councillor)
- Former MPPs:
- Former MPs:
- Former Senators:
- Former municipal politicians:
- Nominated candidates: (1) Michael Tibollo (Vaughan--Woodbridge)
- Other prominent individuals: (1) Charles McVety (Canada Christian College President)
- Organizations:
- Media:
- Policies:
Caroline Mulroney
- Background
Caroline Mulroney, 43, is a lawyer, philanthropist, and businesswoman. She is the daughter of former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney and his wife, Mila. Mulroney is the PC candidate in York--Simcoe for the upcoming election.
- Date candidacy declared: February 4, 2018
- Endorsements
- MPPs: (6) Bob Bailey (Sarnia--Lambton), Monte McNaughton (Lambton--Kent--Middlesex), Norm Miller (Parry Sound--Muskoka), Laurie Scott (Haliburton--Kawartha Lakes--Brock), John Yakabuski (Renfrew--Nipissing--Pembroke), Jeff Yurek (Elgin--Middlesex--London)
- MPs: (1) Lisa Raitt (Milton)
- Senators:
- Municipal politicians: (1) Nancy Deni (Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustee for Zone 4)
- Former MPPs:
- Former MPs:
- Former Senators:
- Former municipal politicians:
- Nominated candidates: (13) Paul Calandra (Markham--Stouffville), Stan Cho (Willowdale), Merrilee Fullerton (Kanata--Carleton), Parm Gill (Milton), Jon Kieran (Don Valley West), Daryl Kramp (Hastings--Lennox and Addington), Karma Macgregor (Ottawa West--Nepean), Jane McKenna (Burlington), Denzil Minnan-Wong (Don Valley East), Rod Phillips (Ajax), Greg Rickford (Kenora--Rainy River), Gillian Smith (University--Rosedale), Susan Truppe (London North Centre)
- Organizations:
- Other prominent individuals:
- Media:
- Policies:
Withdrawn candidates
Vic Fedeli
- Background
Vic Fedeli, 61, is the Interim Leader (2018-present), Finance Critic and MPP for Nippissing (2011-present), past leadership candidate (2015) and former mayor of North Bay, Ontario (2003-2010). Fedeli told reporters that he will "let my name stand for leader of our party." After the party executive announced its decision to schedule a leadership election in March, Fedeli reiterated his intention to run for the permanent leadership. On January 30, 2018, however, he announced that he would not be running for the permanent leadership after all in order to focus on his duties as interim leader and correcting organizational problems within the party in the run up to the general election.
- Date candidacy declared: January 26, 2018
- Date withdrew: January 30, 2018
- Endorsements
- MPPs:
- MPs:
- Senators:
- Municipal politicians: (4) Mike Anthony (North Bay City Councillor), Mark King (North Bay City Councillor), Al McDonald (Mayor of North Bay), Bill Vrebosch (Mayor of East Ferris)
- Former MPPs: (1) Rod Jackson (Barrie, 2011-2014)
- Former MPs:
- Former Senators:
- Former municipal politicians:
- Nominated candidates: (1) Jane McKenna (Burlington)
- Other prominent individuals: (3) Fred Slade (Sudbury PC riding president), Diane Suski (Ontario PC Regional Vice President, Northern Ontario), Jib Turner (Algoma--Manitoulin PC riding president)
- Organizations:
- Media:
- Policies:
Prospective candidates
- Peter Bethlenfalvy, former businessman and PC candidate in Pickering--Uxbridge.
- Steve Clark, Co-Deputy Leader and MPP for Leeds--Grenville (2010-present)
- Sylvia Jones, Co-Deputy Leader and MPP for Dufferin--Caledon (2007-present)
- Frank Klees, former provincial minister and MPP (York--Mackenzie 1995-1999, Oak Ridges 1999-2007, Newmarket--Aurora 2007-2014), former leadership candidate (2004 & 2009)
- Ross Romano, Critic for Northern Ontario Jobs and the Ring of Fire MPP for Sault Ste. Marie (2017-present).
Declined
- Stella Ambler, former MP for Mississauga South (2011-2015)
- John Baird, former federal foreign minister and MP (Ottawa West--Nepean 2006-2015) and a former provincial cabinet minister and MPP (Nepean 1995-1999, Nepean--Carleton 1999-2005)
- Tony Clement, former federal and provincial cabinet minister, MP for Parry Sound--Muskoka (2006-present), former MPP for Brampton South (1995-1999) and Brampton West--Mississauga (1999-2003)
- Jim Karahalios, corporate lawyer and founder of activist groups "Axe The Carbon Tax" and "Take Back Our PC Party". Was sued by the PC party but the case was dismissed.
- Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto Sun columnist and 2009 PC by-election candidate in St. Paul's.
- Lisa MacLeod, Finance Critic, Treasury Board Critic and MPP for Nepean--Carleton (2006-present)
- Monte McNaughton, Critic for Economic Development, Employment & Growth and MPP for Lambton--Kent--Middlesex (2011-present) Endorsed Caroline Mulroney.
- Alex Nuttall, MP for Barrie--Springwater--Oro-Medonte (2015-present)
- Erin O'Toole, former federal Veterans' Affairs Minister and MP for Durham (2012-present), former federal Conservative leadership candidate (2017). Endorsed Christine Elliott.
- Jordan Peterson, University of Toronto psychology professor and social commentator
- Rod Phillips, former president of Postmedia, former head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, former head of CivicAction and current PC candidate in Ajax. Endorsed Caroline Mulroney.
- Lisa Raitt, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (2017-present), MP for Milton (2008-present), and former federal cabinet minister.
- Todd Smith, Energy Critic and MPP for Prince Edward--Hastings (2011-present).
- John Tory, Mayor of Toronto (2014-present), former Ontario PC leader (2004-2009) and former MPP for Dufferin--Peel--Wellington--Grey (2005-2007).
- Kevin O'Leary, Businessman, Reality TV Host, and candidate for leadership for the Conservative Party of Canada.
Opinion polling
All Ontarians
Progressive Conservative supporters only
Progressive Conservative members only
Notes
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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