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A political scientist at St. Thomas University says an East-West divide still exists within the federal Conservative Party.
Tom Bateman says the new leader will have to bridge the gap which has been a problem for the Tories.
“Liberals have been able to cobble together enough of a cross regional coalition to form the government, most of the time. The Conservatives have to do the same thing and it’s been more difficult for them.”
Bateman notes how the modern Conservative Party was created almost 20 years ago but its centre of gravity remains in the West.
“That puts other parts of the country in a kind of different position relative to where the Conservative Party is. And it’s a bit of an Olympic long jump sometimes to bring those parts of the whole Conservative coalition together.”
Ottawa area MP Pierre Poilievre is the only candidate so far to announce a run for the leadership.
