The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) announced some changes late last week regarding their leadership contest. Since many of you ask about family policies of the four leadership contestants, we wanted to give you a brief update.

The CPC’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) announced last Thursday that the leadership race has been “suspended” as a result of COVID-19. But what does “suspended” actually mean to LEOC? Here’s what they announced:

• online fundraising and cheque donations processing for candidates will be suspended until May 1^st
• the cut-off to become a party member eligible to vote in the contest has been moved from April 17^th to May 15^th
• the June 27^th convention in Toronto where they announce the winner has been cancelled
• candidates are “encouraged” to not communicate with Party members until May 1^st
• LEOC will reassess the voting timeline on May 1^st

Does this mean the vote has been delayed? NO. LEOC chose not to declare a delay on the vote at this time. The party could still proceed with a mail-in ballot vote in late May, and an announcement some weeks later.  

In delaying some of the dates above, yet not officially delaying the actual vote, LEOC has eliminated the “discuss and debate” portion of the democratic process. PAFE agrees with Derek Sloan: This is unacceptable! This compressed time frame will favour the candidates with greater name recognition such as Peter McKay and Erin O’Toole.

A delayed vote would allow all candidates the time to campaign, meet people face to face, and fundraise after the COVID-19 restrictions come to an end.

So what now?

If you have not yet joined the party, there is still time to do so to vote for a good pro-family candidate such as Derek Sloan.

ACTION ITEMS

1. Become a member at conservative.ca/join (must be 14 yrs or older, a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident).
2. Encourage 9 more people (family, friends, anyone age 14 and over) to join.
3. Let us know you’ve joined! Email [email protected] or leave a message at 416-763-7233 to tell us. We will inform you and those you have signed up of the important next steps in electing a pro-family candidate.

Best regards,

Teresa Pierre, Ph.D.
President

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