Conservative Party of Canada Leadership Race Megathread-May 27th 2017

[adma]

Steven Blaney left his opposition critic role so it seems he is ready to run for leadership.

If he wins, brace yourself for a barrage of bald jokes.

[2952-0-0]

Stay classy, Conservatives: https://twitter.com/LindaFrum/status/779839392332611588

[Hatman 🍁]

Stay classy, Conservatives: https://twitter.com/LindaFrum/status/779839392332611588

David Frum's sister. What a deplorable family.

Also, I do find it amusing though that we have our own little birther controversy.  As pointless as it is.

[2952-0-0]

The most amazing thing of all is that the Conservatives could have continued to make a big fuss over the PMO expense claims for the next few weeks and ended Trudeau's honeymoon. Instead, it barely made one news cycle before they chose to race-bait. Well, not really race-bait, but it seems awfully much like it.

"Anti-Canadian Values screening!" "She was born in Iran not Afghanistan!" If this sets the tone for the leadership race, then the CPC's survival as a national force is in doubt. After electoral reform is introduced (assuming it's a form of PR), and after their second thrashing in 2019, what holds it together?

The only reason why I wouldn't be breaking out the popcorn, is that one of these splinter parties is likely to be a European-style far-right party. And so far, Canada is one of very few western countries without such parties.

[MaxQue]

The most amazing thing of all is that the Conservatives could have continued to make a big fuss over the PMO expense claims for the next few weeks and ended Trudeau's honeymoon. Instead, it barely made one news cycle before they chose to race-bait. Well, not really race-bait, but it seems awfully much like it.

"Anti-Canadian Values screening!" "She was born in Iran not Afghanistan!" If this sets the tone for the leadership race, then the CPC's survival as a national force is in doubt. After electoral reform is introduced (assuming it's a form of PR), and after their second thrashing in 2019, what holds it together?

The only reason why I wouldn't be breaking out the popcorn, is that one of these splinter parties is likely to be a European-style far-right party. And so far, Canada is one of very few western countries without such parties.

They? I'm pretty sure it's Leitch only, to the annoyance of Rona Ambrose and most leadership candidates.

[136or142]

The most amazing thing of all is that the Conservatives could have continued to make a big fuss over the PMO expense claims for the next few weeks and ended Trudeau's honeymoon. Instead, it barely made one news cycle before they chose to race-bait. Well, not really race-bait, but it seems awfully much like it.

"Anti-Canadian Values screening!" "She was born in Iran not Afghanistan!" If this sets the tone for the leadership race, then the CPC's survival as a national force is in doubt. After electoral reform is introduced (assuming it's a form of PR), and after their second thrashing in 2019, what holds it together?

The only reason why I wouldn't be breaking out the popcorn, is that one of these splinter parties is likely to be a European-style far-right party. And so far, Canada is one of very few western countries without such parties.

They? I'm pretty sure it's Leitch only, to the annoyance of Rona Ambrose and most leadership candidates.

Tony Clement said that 'if' there was to be an investigation of Minister Monsef's background, that she should step down from the cabinet for the duration of the investigation.

[RogueBeaver]

Scheer announcing tomorrow.

[136or142]

Scheer announcing tomorrow.

Sheerly a pro-forma statement tomorrow

It's interesting the number of Albertans who seem to be jumping aboard his candidacy, given that he is a Saskatchewan M.P.

[136or142]

If Lisa Raitt does not run, would it be fair to predict that most of her supporters would go to Erin O'Toole (who I think would be a lock to run if Raitt doesn't) or would her support split largely between O'Toole and Michael Chong?

[Famous Mortimer]

Too lazy to read 20 pages of comments but it appears there are actually candidates now. Here's my impressions of them based off skimming Wikipedia, tell me if I'm wrong:

Maxime Bernier: Former Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mainstream Libertarian-ish candidate. Think David Davis/Rand Paul.

Michael Chong: Former Minister of Sport. Generic conservative except makes pro-environmental noises. Half Chinese. Seems like a Cameron/Rubio type in that he seems young and moderate but actually isn't.

Tony Clement: Some dude who no one really likes but he's somehow rich and he keeps running for stuff. Eventually he was rewarded with a seat in parliament.

Kellie Leitch: Former Labor Minister. Very conservative candidate. Sort of a Canadian Andrea Leadsom.

Deepak Obhrai: Longest serving Conservative MP. Generic conservative but makes noises about need for moderation. Also Indian so that also makes him seem less conservative than he actually is. Like an Indian John McCain.

Andrew Scheer: Former Speaker of the House. Generic conservative boring dude. Trying to be like Harper I guess.

Pierre Lemieux: MP who says he's running but hasn't filed. Running as a social conservative.

Brad Trost: The same person as Lemieux.

[RogueBeaver]

No, Chong is a principled Red Tory (moderate) through and through.

[RogueBeaver]

O'Toole is in.

[DC Al Fine]

O'Toole is in.

Looks like there's no chance of an 'Ontario Candidate' happening.

What's O'Toole's appeal anyway?

[RogueBeaver]

O'Toole is in.

Looks like there's no chance of an 'Ontario Candidate' happening.

What's O'Toole's appeal anyway?

What's the appeal of our most obscure field (to the general or even medium-info public) in at least 40, maybe 80 years?

[adma]

O'Toole is in.

Looks like there's no chance of an 'Ontario Candidate' happening.

What's O'Toole's appeal anyway?

One of the more competent latter-day Harper ministers?

[SATW]

The Frums are massive FFs, imo.

[RogueBeaver]

Trost wants to resurrect the abortion and SSM debates.

[136or142]

O'Toole is in.

Looks like there's no chance of an 'Ontario Candidate' happening.

What's O'Toole's appeal anyway?

What's the appeal of our most obscure field (to the general or even medium-info public) in at least 40, maybe 80 years?

Do you mean for just the (Progressive) Conservative Party? The NDP field in 1989 was far more obscure until Dave Barrett belatedly entered the race.

[RogueBeaver]

Yeah, for Tories.

[RogueBeaver]

Will Clement be the first to drop?

[Poirot]

Bernier wants to simplify the tax system. He wants to raise the personal exemption to $15,000. Instead of five brackets he is proposing two. 15% on income between $15,000 and $100,000 and 25% above that. He would cut a lot of tax credits and exemptions.

He also wants a free market for maple syrup producers.

[2952-0-0]

If the Liberals were ruthless, they would shamelessly plagiarize some of Bernier's ideas like opening up more service sectors to foreign ownership and competition, and scaling back some supply management sectors.

[Boston Bread]

If the Liberals were ruthless, they would shamelessly plagiarize some of Bernier's ideas like opening up more service sectors to foreign ownership and competition, and scaling back some supply management sectors.

The Liberals seem to be too cautious with respect to how they use their (massive) political capital to attempt anything like this, for better or worse.

[DC Al Fine]

Will Clement be the first to drop?

Strong possibility. Ideologues and no-name candidates don't need to pull the same #'s that 'serious' candidates need to since they aren't really running to win.

If the Liberals were ruthless, they would shamelessly plagiarize some of Bernier's ideas like opening up more service sectors to foreign ownership and competition, and scaling back some supply management sectors.

The Liberals seem to be too cautious with respect to how they use their (massive) political capital to attempt anything like this, for better or worse.

It strikes me as a very good way to make the NDP relevant again.

[136or142]

If the Liberals were ruthless, they would shamelessly plagiarize some of Bernier's ideas like opening up more service sectors to foreign ownership and competition, and scaling back some supply management sectors.

The Liberals seem to be too cautious with respect to how they use their (massive) political capital to attempt anything like this, for better or worse.
[/quote]

It strikes me as a very good way to make the NDP relevant again.
[/quote]

The economic nationalists would be unhappy for a while, but I think most voters as consumers would be pleased.