Below is a brief introduction into the twelve candidates running for the first conservative leadership debate on November 9, 2016
CHRIS ALEXANDER
Born in Toronto in 1968, educated at McGill, Laval and Oxford, Chris was a Canadian diplomat for eighteen years before being elected to Parliament in 2011 with PM Harper’s majority. He has served Canadians as Ambassador, MP, Parliamentary Secretary and Minister. He and his wife Hedvig have two daughters.
MAXIME BERNIER
Before entering politics, Maxime Bernier worked for several financial institutions before becoming VP of the Montreal Economic Institute in 2005. At Stephen Harper’s request, he ran for the CPC in 2006 and was elected MP for the riding of Beauce. He is the father of two girls.
STEVEN BLANEY
Elected for the first time in 2006 and re-elected three times, Steven Blaney was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs in 2011 and Minister of Public Safety in 2013. He led the government’s efforts to fight terrorism and he also implemented measures to reduce administrative burdens for law-abiding firearms owners.
MICHAEL CHONG
Michael Chong is a fiscal conservative who lives on a farm in southern Ontario, with his wife Carrie, and their three boys, William, Alistair and Cameron. He served in cabinet and has been elected since 2004. Prior to his election, Michael worked in the private sector and co-founded Historica Canada.
KELLIE LEITCH
Kellie was elected as the MP for Simcoe-Grey in 2011 and served as a minister for Prime Minister Harper. Kellie has been a long-time activist in the Conservative Party since she was 14. Professionally, Kellie is a pediatric surgeon and still volunteers at the children’s hospital in Ottawa.
DAN LINDSAY
Daniel Lindsay is an accomplished physician, healthcare administrator and educator, successful businessperson, proud father of three grown children, competitive sharpshooter, and five-tour civilian volunteer doctor at the Kandahar military hospital during Afghanistan war. A lifelong Conservative, he brings fresh ideas based on real-world experience to the CPC leadership contest.
ERIN O’TOOLE
Erin, a married father of two, served in the Canadian Forces, practiced law, served as a Cabinet Minister, and now serves as the MP for Durham. He is a co-founder of the True Patriot Love Foundation, a national charity that honours the sacrifices of members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
DEEPAK OBHRAI
Deepak will unify the voice of the Canadian people who want a Canada that embraces our Economic Strength; Unifies our similarities and celebrates our diversities; Creates an environment of success for our children and their future, and continues the true spirit of Canadian democracy through dialogue and Grassroots Policies.
LISA RAITT
Lisa has served as Minister of Transport, Labour and Natural Resources and Finance Critic. Graduate of St. FX University, Lisa holds a Masters in Science from Guelph University and was called to the bar in 1998, before becoming President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority. Lisa is married and mother of two.
ANDREW SAXTON
Andrew Saxton is a seasoned economic manager with 30 years of leadership experience in the private sector and government. He is a long-time Conservative and served in Parliament as MP from 2008 to 2015, and as Parliamentary Secretary to Treasury Board and Finance.
ANDREW SCHEER
Fluently bilingual, Andrew has served as the MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle for twelve years. Andrew was the youngest Speaker of the House of Commons in history. He helped lead Conservatives as the Opposition House Leader. Andrew and his wife Jill live and work in Regina, where they raise their five children.
BRAD TROST
Born, raised & homeschooled on a farm, Brad earned geophysics & economics degrees (UofS) and worked as a prospector before election as MP in 2004. He organized Energy Caucus, and sat on Natural Resources ctte (10 yrs) & PPLC (since ’04). He & Gerelt, his wife, have a daughter, Isabel.
RICK PETERSON
Peterson, a fluently bilingual Vancouver-based financial services executive, has been planning his candidacy for a few months, and is the second B.C. hopeful in the race, along with former Conservative MP Andrew Saxton. He has been a Conservative party supporter for more than three decades and ran for the leadership of the B.C. Tories in 2014.
PIERRE LEMIEUX
Lemieux, a three-term former MP from eastern Ontario was defeated in the 2015 federal election, served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Veterans Affairs and the minister of Agriculture during his nearly decade as an MP in Stephen Harper’s government.
