2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election

The 2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election was held on May 31, 2003, to elect a leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Peter MacKay was elected as leader to replace former Prime Minister Joe Clark, who then retired as party leader. In the end, five candidates emerged as challengers for the leadership by the convention date. Two other candidates had participated in the race but both withdrew as contestants before the vote. Quebec Member of Parliament (MP) André Bachand withdrew his candidacy from the race due to financial concerns and backed Peter MacKay. Former Cabinet Minister and Quebec MP Heward Grafftey also withdrew his candidacy from the race due to health concerns and backed David Orchard.

2003 Progressive Conservative Party leadership election

May 31, 2003

Candidate Peter MacKay Jim Prentice Fourth ballot delegate count 1,538 (64.8%) 836 (35.2%) Third ballot delegate count 1,128 (45.0%) 761 (30.4%) Second ballot delegate count 1,018 (39.7%) 466 (18.2%) First ballot delegate count 1,080 (41.1%) 478 (18.2%)   PC Candidate David Orchard Scott Brison Fourth ballot delegate count Eliminated Eliminated Third ballot delegate count 617 (24.6%) Eliminated Second ballot delegate count 619 (24.1%) 463 (18.0%) First ballot delegate count 640 (24.3%) 431 (16.4%)

Leader before election Joe Clark Elected Leader Peter MacKay

2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election

Date	May 31, 2003
Convention	Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Resigning leader	Joe Clark
Won by	Peter MacKay
Ballots	4
Candidates	5
Entrance Fee	C$
Spending limit	None

The results of the race produced immediate controversy when it emerged that winner Mackay had signed an agreement with David Orchard in order to get elected. This deal promised the party would review the Canadian-American Free Trade Agreement, and that it would not cooperate or merge with the Canadian Alliance. This controversy continued when MacKay ignored the agreement, and signed an agreement to merge his party with the Canadian Alliance to form the new Conservative Party of Canada. The merger was approved by party members in December 2003. After the merger was approved, Brison announced that he was defecting to the Liberals.

Candidates

• Peter MacKay, 37, Member of Parliament for Central Nova, Nova Scotia, former Crown Attorney.(
• Jim Prentice, 46, Calgary lawyer and past Progressive Conservative candidate for parliament.
• David Orchard, 52, Saskatchewan farmer and campaigner against globalization and free trade. Runner-up in 1998 leadership election.
• Scott Brison, 35, Member of Parliament for Kings—Hants, Nova Scotia.
• Craig Chandler, 32, executive director of Progressive Group for Independent Business and a social conservative activist in Alberta. Ran on a Unite the Right platform calling on the Progressive Conservatives to merge with the Canadian Alliance.

Withdrawn

• André Bachand, 41, Member of Parliament for Richmond—Arthabaska, Quebec. Withdrew to support MacKay
• Heward Grafftey, 74, former MP for Brome—Missisquoi, Quebec (1958-1968, 1972–1980) and former Minister of State for Social Programs and Minister of State for Science and Technology (1979-1980).

Results

Delegate support by ballot

Candidate		1st ballot		2nd ballot		3rd ballot		4th ballot
		Votes cast	%	Votes cast	%	Votes cast	%	Votes cast	%
	MACKAY, Peter Gordon	1,080	41.1%	1,018	39.7%	1,128	45.0%	1,538	64.8%
	PRENTICE, James (Jim)	478	18.2%	466	18.2%	761	30.4%	836	35.2%
	ORCHARD, David	640	24.3%	619	24.1%	617	24.6%	Endorsed MacKay
	BRISON, Scott A.	431	16.4%	463	18.0%	Endorsed Prentice
	CHANDLER, Craig B.	0	—	Withdrew before 1st ballot began; Endorsed Prentice
Total		2,629	100.0%	2,566	100.0%	2,506	100.0%	2,374	100.0%

First round MacKay   41.08% Orchard   24.34% Prentice   18.18% Brison   16.39% Chandler   0.00%

Final round MacKay   64.79% Prentice   35.21%

Chandler withdrew before voting began to endorse Prentice. Estimates suggest that Chandler had six committed delegates from Calgary ridings who voted in favour of Prentice. After the second ballot, Brison dropped off and supported Prentice. Brison was the only candidate to gain votes on this ballot compared to his first ballot result; all of the other candidates lost votes. After the third ballot, Orchard threw his support to MacKay after the two men signed an agreement committing MacKay to not merge the PCs with the Canadian Alliance and to hold a review of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

See also

• Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
• 2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election