OTTAWA – Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong has announced he will not seek leadership of the Conservative Party.
In a Jan. 29 statement, Chong said he made the decision after several weeks of deliberating with family, friends and supporters.
“I have concluded that now is not the time for me to seek the leadership,” Chong stated. “In the coming months, I will be following the leadership race closely.”
Former cabinet minister Peter MacKay heads a list of leadership candidates that also includes Ontario MPs Erin O’Toole and Marilyn Gladu, whose applications are still being reviewed, and Alberta businessman Rick Peterson, who announced his intention to run on Jan. 29.
“Conservatives need a leader that can unite a diverse group that includes social conservatives, social progressives, libertarians, les bleus and fiscal conservatives,” Chong stated.
“In addition to maintaining unity, the next leader must also broaden the party and appeal to a bigger group of voters. This will require a leader with an ambitious agenda to deal with Canada’s subpar economic and environmental performance.”
Chong, who said he will now “play a role in building a bigger Conservative Party,” listed the following commitments he would like to see from the new leader:
- an agenda, based on conservative principles, that harnesses the power of free enterprise and market-based solutions;
- meet international commitments on climate change, overseas development assistance and NATO;
- restore “Canada’s place in the world” and strengthening democracy;
- form more transparent, more accessible and more democratic parties/procedures;
- reform the House of Commons to strengthen the role of MPs;
- defend freedom of speech and freedom of conscience and religion, including Canadians who wear the hijab, the kippa and the turban; and
- proficient in both of Canada’s official languages.
