Amery takes on Obhrai in federal Tory nomination
Long-serving incumbent MP says ‘challenge came as a complete shock’
Former Progressive Conservative MLA Moe Amery is challenging incumbent MP Deepak Obhrai for the Conservative nomination in a battle of political warhorses that is already creating hard feelings.
Amery, who represented Calgary-East from 1993 until his defeat in the 2015 provincial election, filed papers with the Conservative party last week to run in Calgary Forest Lawn and take on Obhrai, an MP for the past two decades.
In an interview, Amery said he was urged to run against Obhrai by residents of the east Calgary riding who feel that the veteran MP isn’t fulfilling his duties as he has in the past.
“This is a time we need a change,” said Amery, 62.
“Some people thought he doesn’t really want to be an active member.”
Amery cited a note Obhrai sent to new Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer after the party’s leadership contest this year, saying he was not interested in a specific role in the Opposition shadow cabinet.
Obhrai, first elected as a Reform MP in 1997, is the longest-serving member of the Conservative caucus. He finished last in May’s Conservative leadership vote.
Obhrai was not available for comment Wednesday.
In a Facebook post earlier this week, the 67-year-old Obhrai did not name Amery but said he intended to fend off a challenge mounted “by someone whom I have supported in his own political career in the past and whom I have always considered a friend.”
“This conspiracy was crafted while I was helping the Conservative Party across Canada, during our outreach effort in the byelection,” he wrote.
“This challenge came as a complete shock to the party, especially since I have been strong in promoting the party nationally.”
Amery said calling his effort a conspiracy was “laughable” and he still considers Obhrai a friend.
“Since when is an open, fair nomination … considered a conspiracy? Nominations reinvigorate members and make the political process more exciting,” he said.
“I don’t know why he’s taken it so personally.”
Amery is still required to go through an interview process with the Conservative party before he is formally approved to run. No nomination date has been set.
The deadline for challenging incumbent Conservative MPs was last Friday.
No other incumbent Calgary Conservative MPs will face nomination fights. Nominations will open for non-incumbent seats in the new year and there is expected to be heavy competition to be the Conservative standard-bearer in Calgary Centre and Calgary Skyview, which were won by the Liberals in 2015.