Peter Kent endorses Michael Chong for Conservative leadership

ipolitics.ca
May 18, 2016
By BJ Siekierski

Describing Michael Chong as a “man of principle” who “represents the Conservative Party of tomorrow”, Conservative MP and former environment minister Peter Kent endorsed Chong’s bid for the Conservative leadership on Wednesday.

“I’m supporting Michael’s candidacy and will work to convince parliamentary colleagues and Conservatives across the country to join the campaign to make him Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the next Prime Minister of Canada,” Kent writes in an official statement.

“As President of the Queen’s Privy Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Sport, Michael demonstrated cool, competent, and collegial management skills. He resigned from Cabinet on a matter of principle and in subsequent years took principled positions in asking for reinstatement of the long-form census, advocating for greater environmental protection and working to achieve greater power in local democracy.”

Kent adds that Chong successfully navigated his private member’s bill, the Reform Act, through the legislative process.

“Our Conservative Caucus used the Reform Act’s provisions in the selection of our interim leader and House officers after the 2015 election. If one believes that too much power resides in the Prime Minister’s Office, Michael is the clear candidate to support,” Kent writes.

“A child of immigrants, Michael possesses the leadership skills, the smarts and the temperament to lead our party back to government.”

Chong officially announced his candidacy in Ottawa on Monday, taking a clear position on subjects that divide Conservative Party members: same-sex marriage and taxing carbon, among them.

The Conservative Party will pick its next leader just over a year from now, on May 27, 2017. There are currently two other declared candidates, both of whom were also cabinet ministers in the Harper government: Kellie Leitch and Maxime Bernier.