The Conservative Party of Canada logo. (Imge: Conservative Party of Canada/Facebook)
The first candidate to run for the leadership of the federal Conservatives has stepped forward.
Ottawa area MP Pierre Poilievre, the party’s finance critic, announced he wants the top job in a video posted to Twitter on Saturday.
St. Thomas University political science professor Tom Bateman says strategy is key when seeking the party leadership.
“A lot of people may throw their hat in because there is no perceived front-runner but the people who do run may not think they have a realistic chance,” he notes.
“But what they can do is garner support and then deliver that support to the eventual winner of the leadership and that would get them a cabinet position and more influence in the party.”
After losing the leadership in 2020, Bateman believes Peter MacKay will likely sit this one out given the current turmoil the Conservatives find themselves in.
Numerous current and former Conservative MP’s have said they will endorse Poilievre.
Bateman also sees New Brunswick Southwest MP John Williamson as a possible contender.
Manitoba MP Candice Bergen was chosen as interim leader after the party voted to oust Erin O’Toole last week.
