There are now four candidates for the Conservative crown -- Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Leswyn Lewis, and Patrick Brown. Eric Blais writes this battle will be all about the definition of "conservative:"
If the third time is indeed a charm, this third leadership race in six years will be a referendum on the party’s future. One that should force a decision on what the Conservative brand should stand for to succeed. Since it’s often more important to be different than to be better, the more polarized the positions of the two leading candidates will be, the better. It might split the party but it will bring much needed clarity on what the Conservative brand stands for.
There was much talk of the party’s need to “rebrand” when Andrew Scheer stepped down in 2019. In most organizations, that’s usually important work done prior to choosing the person who will best embody the new brand promise.
Political parties don’t operate this way. Members pick the leader they believe best represents their views. And when the rules of the leadership race create an opening, one can come from behind and get elected even if the new leader’s positions aren’t representative of the majority.
And there's the rub. The party's base is where Poilievre and Lewis are. Charest and Brown will not be their first choice. However,
having two clear choices is the only path forward to shape the future of the Conservative brand. Party supporters, which must include a significant number of new members this time around, should welcome having to choose between two polar opposites. It might reposition the Conservative brand in a manner that alienate some members it but it’s the only way voters in the next general election will be able to choose between a Conservative party that can confidently say “I’m a PC” and a Liberal party that can only say “I’m a Mac.”
We'll see in September what being a Conservative in Canada means.
Image: CBC
