Local Conservative MPs support a delay in their party’s leadership race.
Last week, the Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership election organizing committee (LEOC) announced it would delay the leadership race due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Albert-Edmonton MP Michael Cooper said right now, people are “rightfully” focused on the health and wellbeing of them and their loved ones, along with the economic fallout from the pandemic.
“People's minds were elsewhere than the Conservative leadership race and so from that standpoint, it's reasonable that the party leadership committee put a pause on the leadership (race),” Cooper said.
Sturgeon River-Parkland MP Dane Lloyd said he thinks the leadership committee made the right decision at the right time.
“Frankly, I think by continuing on with the same timeline, trying to fundraise, trying to engage people when we're in a situation like we are, I think that could have done some long-term damage to our party,” Lloyd said.
“I can only imagine seniors who are looking at their savings account, their retirement savings, and the losses that they've incurred over the last month and being called and asked for money.”
Lloyd said by delaying the race a few months, that can allow people to focus on their health, safety and economic situation for the time being and the party can then work to have a leader in place by the fall.
But both MPs said it is important for the party to get a leader in place soon.
“We need a leader. That's really the bottom line. The current leader, Andrew Scheer, has resigned, so we need to select a leader who can fulfill the role as leader of the Conservative Party and the leader of the Official Opposition and be in a position to lead our party into the next election – which again in the minority Parliament could happen sooner rather than later,” Cooper said.
The duo said it is important to have a strong opposition party, even during a crisis like a pandemic.
“A lot of times, if government is not watched carefully, decisions can be sloppy, decisions can be made in haste,” Lloyd said.
“It's essential for the opposition to point out gaps and to hold the government's feet to the fire so that they perform the best possible way that they can. If there wasn't a strong opposition, if we weren’t hot on their heels, then they might react in a way that isn't as isn't as robust as what Canadians expect.”
Cooper said it is important, now more than ever, to provide scrutiny to government. The MP said providing opposition doesn’t mean standing in the way of getting support to Canadians, but he said democracy still needs to function in the face of a crisis.
“Democracy has never shut down in this country. We've been through many challenges before, including two world wars, and Parliament continued to function and Parliament will continue to function.”
The Conservative Party of Canada tweeted on March 26 that it would not be able to execute a leadership race by June.
With all non-essential businesses closed in Ontario and Quebec – including the committee's headquarters – the LEOC said it “now finds that it is no longer possible to meet the deadlines necessary to process memberships and donations, or print, process and count ballots in time for a June 27 announcement."
The committee said it will continue to monitor the situation and will do a re-evaluation on May 1.
“The previously scheduled debates on April 17 and April 23, as well as the leadership event on June 27 are all cancelled. LEOC will determine new dates after May 1. Additionally, the membership deadline will be moved to May 15,” the party stated in a tweet.
