Harper’s hometown hosts race to find next top Tory
After more than a decade of having Calgarian Stephen Harper at the Conservative helm, local Tories got up close and personal with the contenders vying to replace him as the party’s leader.
More than 500 people turned out to the Deerfoot Inn and Casino to hear 13 of the 14 federal Conservative leadership candidates at a forum sponsored by local party riding associations.
Harper was the only leader the Conservative party had since its formation in 2003, but he stepped down after his government was defeated by Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in the 2015 federal election.
Regina MP Andrew Scheer, who has eight Alberta MPs in his corner, said the party had to learn the lessons of the last election and be positive about the benefits of conservative policies.
“It wasn’t our policies that lost us the last election,” said Scheer, whose campaign announced the support of four Wildrose MLAs in the midst of the forum.
“We do have a positive vision for the country, we just weren’t talking about it enough.”
The biggest cheers of the evening likely came for Quebec MP Maxime Bernier, who is seen as one of the top contenders in the province with his libertarian message of reforming equalization, scrapping supply management in agriculture and eliminating corporate welfare.
“Like you, I believe in a smaller government,” said Bernier.
Businessman and television personality Kevin O’Leary stayed away from the forum, after also skipping Tuesday’s party-sponsored debate in Edmonton.
Despite his absence — and the empty chair marking his place — O’Leary is viewed as one of the front-runners in the race.
Ontario MP Erin O’Toole contrasted himself with O’Leary, joking that he was “the O apostrophe candidate who shows up for debates.”
“If you want to lead this party, you have to be part of the team.”
While candidates made few references to O’Leary, many took a swing at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was also in Calgary on Wednesday for a Liberal rally for two upcoming byelections.
“He doesn’t know us and he can’t create policies that will help us,” said Ontario MP Lisa Raitt, who pitched herself as best equipped to take on Trudeau as Opposition leader in the House of Commons.
“We need to hit him hard every day.”
Candidates took particular aim at the Trudeau government’s plan to mandate carbon pricing by the provinces by 2018. With Alberta’s NDP government having already brought in a carbon levy at the start of this year, carbon pricing is a particular sticking point for provincial Conservatives.
Ontario MP Michael Chong had drawn boos at the Edmonton debate for his own carbon tax plan but laid out his defence to the Calgary crowd.
Chong, who was endorsed Wednesday by former Alberta cabinet minister Gary Mar, said his plan would not apply to the natural resource sector — only consumers — and be offset by an $18-billion income tax cut.
“I’m the most conservative,” Chong said to a few rumbles but no jeers.
Calgary MP Deepak Obhrai is the only Alberta candidate in the race, but both MP Kellie Leitch and businessman Rick Peterson noted they were both originally from the province.
Leitch touted her controversial plan to increase screening of immigrants, refugees and all visitors to Canada, and lashed out at the media for what she said was misrepresentation of her plan.
“I encourage you not to listen to them,” she said.
MPs Brad Trost and Stephen Blaney, and former members Chris Alexander, Pierre Lemieux and Andrew Saxton round out the field of Conservative candidates.
Conservative members will vote for their new leader in May under a system that gives each riding across Canada equal weight. So while Alberta is the heartland of the Conservative party — electing Tories in 29 of 35 provincial seats in the 2015 election — the province will account for about 10 per cent of the vote in the contest.
If you want to lead this party, you have to be part of the team.