Leadership of the federal Conservative Party: the fracture of the past resurfaces in Alberta

Political organizer Sarah Biggs has rarely seen Alberta’s Conservative base so divided. It’s hard to say which way the party is headed. In Alberta, the divide increasingly resembles that of the Reform Party and the Progressive Conservative Party of the 1990s, early 2000sshe believes.

She sees two camps taking shape: Leslyn Lewis, Roman Baber and Pierre Poilievre embody the new reformers, while Scott Aitchison, Jean Charest and Patrick Brown represent the conservative old guard. Both sides are struggling in their own ways to assert their plan for the future of the party: expand the big conservative tent or fall back on the core values ​​of the party.

Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre, seen by many as the leader of the race, seems to be taking the second path, but speaking of broad issues, such as inflation and housing affordability. His speech attracted Taleesha Thorogood, a young Calgarian working in government relations.

She believes that Pierre Poilievre embodies the true conservative valuesa small government and an emphasis on family and individual choice.

I believe Albertans, and Canadians more generally, are looking for a genuine leader who will be honest about his values ​​throughout the leadership race, but also in the general election. I believe that it is essential to build this confidence within the electoratesays the one who decided to become a volunteer for the candidate.

The specter of the previous leader, Erin O’Toole, has left its mark on the minds of many, he who has been accused of presenting himself as a true blueonly to put on a moderate face in last fall’s federal election.

” We never win when we pretend to be what we are not. »

She also believes that if the agreement between the New Democrats and the Liberals holds water for four years, Canadians will be hungry for change in the next election in 2025, which should favor the Conservatives. It’s the best chance we gotshe believes.

Not everyone believes that this bet will yield the expected results. I’m quite worried about candidates like Mr. Poilievre, his ideas, the way he speaks. It’s not constructive, it’s very divisive. If he wins, he will attract the party more to the rightbelieves for his part Adam Brown, a young French-speaking progressive-conservative.

According to him, Pierre Poilievre is injecting a polarization into the race that the party does not need.

I worry that it brings elements of American politics, conspiracy theories, attacks on institutions like the Bank of Canadaadds Adam Brown.

I’m much more inspired by people like Jean Charest, who bring a lot of experience. He fought a lot for the unity of the country in the past, when I was young or even before I was bornexplains the young man of 25 years.

Shadow candidates will have a big impact

In a leadership race to be determined by ranked ballot, voters’ second and third choices are equally important. 2019 social and religious conservative Aid candidate Leslyn Lewis caused an upset by finishing third.

Tunde Obasan has made it his mission to make it known in the Edmonton area, where he has run several times as a provincial and federal Conservative candidate in recent years.

She defines herself as a social conservative and so do I, he says straight away. What I love about Leslyn Lewis is that no matter what type of conservative you are, she is able to represent you, even if you disagree. It seeks common ground and collaboration to unite us.

” She is a woman capable of leading our country. »

Tunde Obasan does not believe her favorite candidate’s anti-abortion stance will harm her party if she becomes leader. The majority of Canadians are focused on more important issues, such as the unity of the country. I don’t think it’s going to hurt us, because even pro-choicers are voting for her. She does not impose her beliefs, she respects those of others. She is ready to work with everyonehe adds.

Taleesha Thorogood also believes that Leslyn Lewis fans will choose Pierre Poilievre as a second or third choice, which would benefit him in subsequent rounds. In the last campaign, his votes went to the candidate who presented himself as the real conservative [Erin O’Toole] and they didn’t want to choose Peter MacKay as second choiceshe explains.

There are therefore many variables in this six-man race, which will certainly leave one or more camps unhappy. All emphasize the importance of uniting the party following this leadership race. The challenge, however, seems immense, according to Adam Brown.

I think the Conservative Party is in a unique place where its future worries me, admits the young man. The difficulty for this party will be to find a candidate who will not only satisfy the members, but also all voters.

Canadians have until June 3 to become members of the Conservative Party of Canada, in order to be eligible to vote in the leadership race on September 10.