Kenney weighing leadership bid
Calgary MP consulting Tories on party’s future
OTTAWA • Longtime Conservative MP Jason Kenney — thought to be a front-runner for the Tory leadership, if he wants the job — says he’s considering a run for the party crown but is “not close” to making a decision.
Speculation has been mounting within the party over whether Kenney will jump into the race or take a pass if another true-blue Conservative joins the contest, as a new poll suggests the Calgary MP faces challenges winning over some Conservative voters.
Organizers and supporters of some other would-be leadership hopefuls have for weeks been engaging in a whisper campaign insisting that Kenney won’t seek the party reins.
But Kenney says he is still considering a run, and is “actively consulting” with Conservatives about the future of the party and where he fits in.
“I’m not ruling it out,” he said in an interview with the Ottawa Citizen.
“I’m listening to friends, fellow Conservatives about the future, and I’m not close to making a decision, but I’m actively considering what role I should play in the future.”
He said a lot of people have been encouraging him to enter the race.
Conservatives will not elect their new leader until May 27, 2017, but some candidates have already declared, including former Conservative ministers Kellie Leitch and Maxime Bernier.
Peter MacKay, one of the top lieutenants in Stephen Harper’s government, is weighing a possible run for the Tory crown, as are Tony Clement and Lisa Raitt.
Michael Chong, another former minister in the Tory government, is expected to announce sometime before the policy convention that he’s running for the leadership.
There has also been a push from some Conservative caucus members and grassroots Tories alike for the party to allow current interim leader Rona Ambrose to run for the permanent leadership. However,
I’M NOT CLOSE TO MAKING A DECISION, BUT I’M ACTIVELY CONSIDERING WHAT ROLE I SHOULD PLAY.
party rules stipulate that by accepting the interim leadership, Ambrose is barred from seeking the permanent job.
Candidates have until Feb. 24, 2017, to officially enter the race.
As in its 2004 leadership contest that elected Harper, the Conservative party will use a points system and preferential ballot to elect its new leader.
Each of the 338 electoral districts will be allocated 100 points regardless of its membership size, with those points in each riding being proportionately assigned to candidates based on how many votes they received from party members in that riding.