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

[Pragmatic Conservative]

With a New Era beginning in Canada politics a New Era begins for the Canadian Conservative Party, gone is outgoing PM Stephen Harper, instead the Conservatives will be selecting a new leader to lead them for the next 4 years and beyond. Unlike past Canadian Federal Leadership Elections, their is no true single Front runner. The Convention is expected to be held in approximately 1 year. The Conservatives are expected to name an Intern leader in a week and a half.

These are the Candidates speculated in the media I have based on my own thoughts have rated them.
The Top Contenders
Jason Kenney - MP for Calgary Midnapore Alberta (1997-present), Minister of National Defence (2015), Minister for Multiculturalism (2013-2015), Minister of Employment and Social Development (2013-2015), Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2008-2013). Originally elected as a Reform Party and then Canadian Alliance MP.

Lisa Raitt - MP for Milton, Ontario (2015-present) and Halton, Ontario (2008-2015), Minister of Transport (2013-2015), Minister of Labour (2010-2013), Minister of Natural Resources (2008-2010)

Rona Ambrose - MP for Sturgeon Red RiverAlberta (2004-present), Minister of Health (2013-2015), Minister of Public Works and Government Services (2010-2013), Minister of Labour (2008-2010), Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2007-2008), Minister of the Environment (2006-2007).


If they Run

Peter MacKay - MP for Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough, Nova Scotia (1997-2004) and Central Nova, Nova Scotia (2004-2015), Minister of Justice (2013-2015), Minister of National Defence (2007-2013), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006-2007), Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (2003

Tony Clement - MP for Parry Sound—Muskoka, Ontario (2006-present), President of the Treasury Board (2011-2015), Minister of Industry (2008-2011), Minister of Health (2006-2008), third place candidate in the previous Conservative Party of Canada leadership election (2004), formerly an Ontario Progressive Conservative Party MPP (1995-2003) and provincial cabinet minister (1997-2003).

Kellie Leitch - MP for Simcoe—Grey, Ontario (2011-present), Minister of Labour (2013-2015)

Long Shot
Doug Ford - Toronto City Councillor (2010-2014), second place candidate in Toronto mayoral election (2014)

Michelle Rempel - MP for Calgary Nose Hill Alberta (2011-present), Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification) (2013-2015)  (Word is she is strongly considering a run http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/michelle-rempel-cpc-leadership-twitter-1.3283863

Pierre Poilievre - MP for Carleton Ontario (2004-present), Minister of Employment and Social Development (2015), Minister for Democratic Reform (2013-2015)

Michael Chong - MP for Wellington—Halton Hills, Ontario (2004-present), Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2006), President of the Privy Council (2006)

Maxime Bernier - MP for Beauce, Quebec (2006-present), Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism (2011-2015), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007-2008), Minister of Industry (2006-2007)[

Will not Run

Jean Charest - Premier of Quebec (2003-2012), Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (1998-2012), Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1993-1998), Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1993), Minister of the Environment (1991-1993), MP for Sherbrooke (1984-1998) http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/jean-charest-wont-be-a-candidate-to-succeed-stephen-harper-1.3283358


Christy Clark - Premier of British Columbia (2011-present), Leader of the B.C. Liberal Party (2011-present) http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-premier-christy-clark-reacts-election-win-liberals-justin-trudeau-1.3280487

Bernard Lord - Premier of New Brunswick (1999-2006), Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick (1997-2006)http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/bernard-lord-leadership-conservatives-1.3282543

Brad Wall - Premier of Saskatchewan (2007-present), Leader of the Saskatchewan Party (2004-present)http://www.leaderpost.com/news/premier+brad+wall+says+conservative+leadership/11453098/story.html

John Baird - MP for Ottawa West—Nepean, Ontario (2006-2015), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2011-2015), Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2010-2011), Minister of the Environment (2007-2008, 2010-2011), Minister of Transport (2008-2010), President of the Treasury Board, (2006-2007), formerly an Ontario Progressive Conservative Party MPP (1995-2005) and provincial cabinet minister (1999-2003).http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/john-baird-will-not-seek-leadership-of-conservative-party-of-canada-537088601.html

Rona Ambrose - MP for Sturgeon Red RiverAlberta (2004-present), Minister of Health (2013-2015), Minister of Public Works and Government Services (2010-2013), Minister of Labour (2008-2010), Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2007-2008), Minister of the Environment (2006-2007).(In-term Leader, ineligible to run)


I Copied the contenders profiles from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Conservative_Party_of_Canada_leadership_election

[Pragmatic Conservative]

Rempel is running for interim, backed by LeBel, and seems to think it's a done deal. Not happy that someone so underqualified would get the leader's post.

Erin O Toole Running for Interim  Leadership
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/26/former-cabinet-minister-erin-o-toole-eyes-conservative-interim-leadership_n_8389266.html

[Pragmatic Conservative]

New Poll Conservative Party Members only

Mainstreet Research Jan 15th 
Peter MacKay 25%
Kevin O'Leary 23%
Jason Kenney 8%
Maxime Bernier 4%
Lisa Raitt 4%
Kellie Leitch 3%
None of the above 3%
Undecided 29%

http://www.mainstreetresearch.ca/make-canada-great-again-oleary-mckay-tied/

I would be surprised if Kevin O Leary won, as outsiders rarely do well in Canadian leadership races, but I guess will see.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

At this moment who do you think will win. I would be surprised if either O'Leary, or MacKay run,although MacKay is probably one of the favorites if he does run. The way I see it now it is probably a three way race with Bernier, Clement, and Raitt (assuming she runs) as the favorites. While Leitch probably was in the mix at one point, her chances have been hurt significantly by recent comments on Immigration. Chong and Obhrai are probably too moderate to win the leadership, while Lemieux,  Snow, Scheer and Tost are too socially conservative to win.Right now  Raitt probably wins, with Bernier in second and Clement in third.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

Live Blog, First round results expected at around 6PM tomorrow.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservative-leadership-party-live/article35125623/