2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election

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2003 Progressive Conservative Party leadership election
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
  1998 May 31, 2003 2004 (Conservative)  
  Peter Mackay 110127-D-7203C-008 (cropped).jpg 412-APD-446-2009-03-03 CanadianEnviroMinJimPrentice (cropped).jpg
Candidate Peter MacKay Jim Prentice
Fourth ballotdelegate count1,538
(64.8%)
836
(35.2%)
Third ballotdelegate count1,128
(45.0%)
761
(30.4%)
Second ballotdelegate count1,018
(39.7%)
466
(18.2%)
First ballotdelegate count1,080
(41.1%)
478
(18.2%)

 PC Scott Brison (38490985791) (cropped).jpg
Candidate David Orchard Scott Brison
Fourth ballotdelegate countEliminatedEliminated
Third ballotdelegate count617
(24.6%)
Eliminated
Second ballotdelegate count619
(24.1%)
463
(18.0%)
First ballotdelegate count640
(24.3%)
431
(16.4%)

Leader before election

Joe Clark

Elected leader

Peter MacKay

2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election
DateMay 31, 2003
Convention Metro Toronto Convention Centre, [1] Toronto, Ontario
Resigning leader Joe Clark
Won by Peter MacKay
Ballots4
Candidates5
Entrance fee C$
Spending limitNone
Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
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The 2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election was held on May 31, 2003, to elect a leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Peter MacKay was elected as leader to replace former Prime Minister Joe Clark, who then retired as party leader. In the end, five candidates emerged as challengers for the leadership by the convention date. Two other candidates had participated in the race but both withdrew as contestants before the vote. Quebec Member of Parliament (MP) André Bachand withdrew his candidacy from the race due to financial concerns and backed Peter MacKay. Former Cabinet Minister and Quebec MP Heward Grafftey also withdrew his candidacy from the race due to health concerns and backed David Orchard.

Contents

The results of the race produced immediate controversy when it emerged that winner Mackay had signed an agreement with David Orchard in order to get elected. This deal promised the party would review the Canadian-American Free Trade Agreement, and that it would not cooperate or merge with the Canadian Alliance. This controversy continued when MacKay ignored the agreement, and signed an agreement to merge his party with the Canadian Alliance to form the new Conservative Party of Canada. [2] The merger was approved by party members in December 2003. After the merger was approved, Brison announced that he was defecting to the Liberals.

Candidates

Withdrawn

Results

Delegate support by ballot
Candidate1st ballot2nd ballot3rd ballot4th ballot
Votes cast %Votes cast %Votes cast %Votes cast %
Peter-MacKay.jpg MACKAY, Peter Gordon 1,08041.1%1,01839.7%1,12845.0%1,53864.8%
Jim Prentice.jpg PRENTICE, James (Jim) 47818.2%46618.2%76130.4%83635.2%
ORCHARD, David 64024.3%61924.1%61724.6%Endorsed MacKay
Scott Brison 2010.jpg BRISON, Scott A. 43116.4%46318.0%Endorsed Prentice
CHANDLER, Craig B. 0Withdrew before 1st ballot began; Endorsed Prentice
Total2,629100.0%2,566100.0%2,506100.0%2,374100.0%
First round
MacKay
41.08%
Orchard
24.34%
Prentice
18.18%
Brison
16.39%
Chandler
0.00%
Second round
MacKay
39.70%
Prentice
24.10%
Orchard
18.20%
Brison
16.39%
Third round
MacKay
45.0%
Prentice
30.4%
Orchard
24.6%
Final round
MacKay
64.79%
Prentice
35.21%

Chandler withdrew before voting began to endorse Prentice. Estimates suggest that Chandler had six committed delegates from Calgary ridings who voted in favour of Prentice. After the second ballot, Brison dropped off and supported Prentice. Brison was the only candidate to gain votes on this ballot compared to his first ballot result; all of the other candidates lost votes. After the third ballot, Orchard threw his support to MacKay after the two men signed an agreement committing MacKay to not merge the PCs with the Canadian Alliance and to hold a review of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

References

  1. "2003 PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP CONVENTION". CPAC. Cable Public Affairs Channel. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  2. "Orchard hopes lawsuit will save Tory party". CBC News. November 21, 2003.
  3. "MacKay to run for Tory leadership". CBC News. January 16, 2003.
  4. "New Tory leader MacKay calls for unity". CBC News. June 1, 2003.
  5. "Bachand bows out of PC race". CBC News. May 12, 2003.

See also