Only two people from Western Canada are contending for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada in the current leadership race, and none did so in the previous race. However, the dominance of Ontarians vying for the party’s top role does not mean the western influence, so crucial to its Reform Party roots, has diminished, some pundits say.
Among the eight candidates in total thus far, B.C. MP Marc Dalton and Saskatchewan rural businessman Joseph Bourgault are the only two individuals west of Ontario to have declared their intention to run for CPC leadership, while former Quebec premier Jean Charest is the only one further east. The other five candidates are all from Ontario, where MPs Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis, and Scott Aitchison are running, as is MPP Roman Baber along with former MP and current Brampton mayor Patrick Brown.
