2003 Progressive Conservative Party Leadership Race

OTTAWA - The race to replace Joe Clark as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party began on August 6, 2002. That's when Clark called for a leadership convention two weeks before he had to face a leadership review at a party convention in Edmonton. The vote was consequently cancelled, and Clark secured his position at the helm of the party until June 1, 2003 — the date of the PC leadership convention in Toronto. Clark said he made up his mind based on an internal party poll which found that while he was popular and trusted, he couldn't translate those positive attributes into votes. "I suppose I could have sat back and clung to office, to no one's advantage," he said at the time. "I think that there are times in public life when you have to put your party's interest and your country's interest first, and that's what I've tried to do."

POLITICSWATCH-THE RACE FOR LEADER INDEX:
PC leadership contenders, ranking, bio, photo, Web site and contact information
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PC Leadership Contenders -  
Bio, contact and Web site info

Peter MacKay
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Peter MacKay made it clear upon declaring his candidacy that he does not support a merger with the Canadian Alliance. The 37-year-old said he is more focussed on debating the issues with Liberal leadership frontrunner Paul Martin. MacKay is considered to be a frontrunner in his own right. He currently leads the race and enjoys a wide margin of delegate support. MacKay has served as MP in his Nova Scotia riding of Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough since 1997. 

David Orchard
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David Orchard has stayed true to his anti-free trade and pro-environment platform of the past. The Saskatchewan farmer and activist ran in a three-horse race for the leadership in 1998. Now he is back to replace Tory Leader Joe Clark, the man who beat him in 1998 and called him a tourist within the party. The native of Borden, Sask. has called the Kyoto Accord on climate change "the only game in town to reduce (C02) emissions" and Canada-U.S. free trade agreements "a threat to Canada's sovereignty." 


Scott Brison
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A familiar face in the PC caucus, Brison has served as the party's spokesperson on finance and industry issues. In declaring his candidacy, Brison plugged a tax system that "rewards work and investment instead of punishing initiative and ambition." He advocated a "well funded military" in concert with "a well funded healthcare system" because, he says, "there is political leadership with the wisdom to invest in the priorities of Canadians and the courage to cut wasteful spending."

Jim Prentice
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Calgary lawyer Jim Prentice has resolved to fix the "fracturing of the conservative coalition" if he is chosen to lead the PC party. "I think the Alliance will be interested in what I have to say," he said upon entering the race. "(Alliance Leader) Stephen Harper has been focussed on solidifying his party. What this country needs is a national conservative coalition." 


Heward Grafftey 
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Heward Grafftey returns to the political limelight since his days as science and technology minister under then-Prime Minister Joe Clark in 1979. Grafftey believes Canadians have always supported moderate governments with "dynamic policies." Parties on the extreme right or left of the political spectrum, he says, are bound to be marginalized by voters. Grafftey is the author of numerous publications, including Democracy Challenged: How to End One-Party Rule in Canada. 

Andre Bachand
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Upon announcing his candidacy, Andre Bachand said he thinks it is "absolutely necessary that Quebecers  - and francophone Canadians – be full-fledged participants in the selection process of a new leader of the" PC party. Bachand has served as the party's deputy House leader. And his critic roles have included regional development, foreign affairs and international trade. He is currently the health critic and federal-provincial relations critic for the Tories. Bachand has been the MP for Richmond-Arthabaska in eastern Quebec since 1997.


Craig Chandler 
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Currently the CEO of the Concerned Christian Coalition, Chandler advocates uniting the right and has organized conferences to rally support for this cause. He is a former president of the Progressive Group for Independent Businesses, an aggressive promoter of uniting the right via the "2cards movement" — a concept that encourages Canadian Alliance members to take out a membership in the federal PCs and vice versa. In 1993, Chandler was a Reform party organizer and candidate for Hamilton Mountain. 

Read these stories and features
from PoliticsWatch:

Online campaign takes MacKay bid to new level
Orchard sticks to his guns in second leadership bid
'I'm not a merger candidate,' MacKay says 
Prentice promises to unite 'fractured' right 
MacKay to announce leadership intentions 
Bilingualism a must for Tory leader, Grafftey
Tory will not run for Conservative leadership
MacKay serious about Tory leadership
Lord won't seek Tory leadership

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Canadian Political Party Leaders
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Political Parties and Democratic Coalitions in the Canadian House of Commons:

Liberal Party of Canada
Canadian Alliance
Le Bloc Québécois
New Democratic Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada