No rest for leadership hopefuls
Tori es push through quiet summer in race to replace Harper
OTTAWA — Maxime Bernier is making major policy announcements and ram ping up his fundraising in the dead of summer.
Tony Clement launched his campaign in the middle of July and posted pictures of himself on Twitter jamming with TV personality and business man Kevin O’ Leary.
Michael Chong and Kellie Leitch are busy stumping for support across the country on the flap jack and barbecue circuit.
Deepak Obhrai is rounding up a campaign team after surprising fellow Conservative MPs by announcing he’s entering the race.
At a time most Canadians have their thoughts set on some sun and fun, Tory leadership hopefuls are in the unenviable position of trying—andneeding—toboostinterest in a race that has more than 10 months to go and lacks political heavyweights.
It’s challenging for candidates to get volunteers engaged and other MP sh el ping their campaigns when they gave up much of last summer for the lead-up and start of the longest federal election campaign in modern Canadian history.
While Conservative MPs and organizers believe the field of candidates will begin to round out in September, it’ s politically and financially imperative for those already running to roundup volunteers and key organizers, and sell all-important memberships during the lazy daysofsummer.
Along with trying to energize supporters across the country, leadership wannabes who submit memberships to the party before Oct .28 will be paid $5 a membership — a financial incentive worth potentially tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
On the flip side, they will have to pay a $5 processing fee for each membership submitted after Feb. 28, 2017. Conservative members will elect a new leader on May 27, 2017.
If candidates are looking for more reasons to get the fundraising and campaign machinery going — even in the summer — they’ve got about 100,000 of them: It costs $100,000 to enter the race, including a $50,000 registration fee and a $50,000 refundable compliance deposit.
Also, they can’t get their hands on the party’s official membership lists until the $50,000 registration fee has been paid( it’ s payable in two $25,000 installments).
While there’s plenty of incentive for candidates to drum up as much interest as they can, raise money and sell as many memberships in the summer, Conservative MPs quietly acknowledge people just aren’ t that engaged.
Bernier said he officially started his fundraising campaign at the beginning of July and has made it a key focus, along with policy announcements.
“Right now, essentially, my team is focusing on being able to do fundraising ,” he said last week in Ottawa.
“But I’m not worried. We will raise the money necessary to conduct an efficient and pan-Canadian campaign.”
At the same time, candidates already in the race know they have to pace themselves on appearances and policy announcements.
When Clement launched his campaign this month, he trumpeted his experience and his strong fiscal credentials, and promised to simplify the tax system, among other items.
Yet, the longtime minister in Stephen Harper’s government was cautious not reveal too much policy in a post-announcement interview, saying his positions will be released in the coming weeks and months.
Despite the summer push by some candidates, many Conservatives will wait to see a fuller slate of hopefuls before committing time and support to anyone.
Paul Calandra, an ex-MP and former parliamentary secretary to Harper, says he has been collecting signatures for leadership candidates.
But like many fellow Conservatives, he’s waiting for a better picture of who will enter the race before endorsing anyone. He’s also looking to enjoy some downtime this summer.
“It’s great that some (candidates) have started already, but I suspect others kind of feel the way I do—that after last summer of 16 or 17 hours( a day) knocking on doors people want a bit of a break,” Calandra said.
“In September, we’ll get a more fuller appreciation of who’s going to get in there.”