Elliott jumps into PC leadership race
Widow of late Jim Flaherty has run twice unsuccessfully for the Ontario Tories’ top job
TORONTO — The race to lead Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party kicked off in earnest Thursday, with the entrance of a high-profile candidate who was once considered the odds-on favourite to lead the party.
Former Ontario legislator Christine Elliott announced via social media she is running to lead the provincial Tories, who have been working to get back on track after their top ranks were rocked by sexual misconduct allegations last week.
The 62-year-old former Whitby-Oshawa politician announced her leadership plans with a simple tweet — “I’m in.”
Elliott will be among those vying to replace former party leader Patrick Brown, who resigned last week in the face of sexual misconduct allegations he categorically denies. His resignation came just months before a spring election.
Elliott’s campaign spokesperson, Mela-
nie Paradis, said the media will hear more from the new candidate in the days to come.
Elliott “is immediately focused on connecting directly with grassroots members to talk about the issues that matter most to our party and the future of Ontario,” Paradis said.
The widow of late federal finance minister Jim Flaherty, Elliott has run twice unsuccessfully for the Tory leadership — once in 2009, when she lost to Tim Hudak, and again in 2015, when she came second to Brown.
She was considered the front-runner in the 2015 race and lost to the upstart Brown, who began the race as a relatively unknown. She went on to serve as Ontario’s patient ombudsman, but resigned from the role Thursday after announcing her bid to lead the PCs.
Elliott’s entry means she joins former Toronto city councillor Doug Ford, brother of the city’s late former mayor Rob Ford, as the race’s only declared candidates.
“I’d like to welcome my friend (Christine Elliott) to the race,” Ford said on Twitter. “I look forward to talking about positive ideas for a stronger Ontario PC Party and how we’re going to beat Kathleen Wynne.”
Other potential candidates include Caroline Mulroney, the daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, and former Postmedia executive Rod Phillips. Sources tell The Canadian Press Phillips is set to enter the race in days.
PC energy critic Todd Smith said in a statement Thursday afternoon that after contemplating a bid for the leadership he will not run, citing the cost to enter the race and the debt required to finance a campaign.
The provincial Tories are set to pick a new leader March 10.
Those seeking to take the reins — or help decide who will — must register with the party by Feb. 16.
Leadership candidates must submit their paperwork and $100,000 in fees and deposits by the February date, with another $25,000 due later to access the party’s membership list. Each candidate’s campaign spending cannot exceed $750,000, according to the document.
Ontario residents who wish to help select the new Tory leader must become party members by that same date. Votes will be cast electronically between March 2 and March 8, and the results will be announced March 10, the rules say.