2003 Progressive Conservative leadership election

Canadian political party leadership race September 2023 2003 Progressive Conservative Party leadership election Canada presidential no 1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election 1998 2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election 2004 (CPC) May 31, 2003 2,629 delegates in the 1st ballot 1,315 delegate Sixth ballot delegate count Fifth ballot delegate count Fourth ballot delegate count Third ballot delegate count Second ballot delegate count First ballot delegate count x150px Peter Mackay 110127-D-7203C-008 (cropped).jpg CA Progressive Conservative nohash Peter MacKay 1,538(64.8%) 1,128(45.0%) 1,018(39.7%) 1,080(41.1%) 412-APD-446-2009-03-03 CanadianEnviroMinJimPrentice (cropped).jpg CA Progressive Conservative nohash Jim Prentice 836(35.2%) 761(30.4%) 466(18.2%) 478(18.2%) PC CA Progressive Conservative nohash David Orchard Eliminated 617(24.6%) 619(24.1%) 640(24.3%) Scott Brison (38490985791) (cropped).jpg CA Progressive Conservative nohash Scott Brison Eliminated Eliminated 463(18.0%) 431(16.4%) Leader Elected leader Joe Clark Peter MacKayOctober 2025 Progressive Conservative CA PC 2003 May 31, 2003 Metro Toronto Convention Centre,2003 PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP CONVENTION http://www.cpac.ca/en/2003-progressive-conservative-leadership/ CPAC Cable Public Affairs Channel 14 February 2016 October 23, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211023223953/https://www.cpac.ca/en/2003-progressive-conservative-leadership/ dead Toronto, Ontario Peter MacKay Joe Clark 5 4 C$ None 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. 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."Orchard hopes lawsuit will save Tory party". CBC News. November 21, 2003. 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.("MacKay to run for Tory leadership". CBC News. January 16, 2003."New Tory leader MacKay calls for unity". CBC News. June 1, 2003. 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"Bachand bows out of PC race". CBC News. May 12, 2003. 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 % 50px Peter MacKay 1,080 41.1% 1,018 39.7% 1,128 45.0% 1,538 64.8% 50px Jim Prentice 478 18.2% 466 18.2% 761 30.4% 836 35.2% David Orchard 640 24.3% 619 24.1% 617 24.6% Endorsed MacKay 50px Scott Brison 431 16.4% 463 18.0% Endorsed Prentice Craig Chandler 0 — Withdrew before 1st ballot began; Endorsed PrenticeTotal 2,629 100.0% 2,566 100.0% 2,506 100.0% 2,374 100.0% First round #ddd 600px 410px MacKay CA Progressive Conservative 41.08 Orchard CA Progressive Conservative 24.34 Prentice CA Progressive Conservative 18.18 Brison CA Progressive Conservative 16.39 Chandler CA Progressive Conservative 0.00Second round #ddd 600px 410px MacKay CA Progressive Conservative 39.70 Prentice CA Progressive Conservative 24.10 Orchard CA Progressive Conservative 18.20 Brison CA Progressive Conservative 16.39Third round #ddd 600px 410px MacKay CA Progressive Conservative 45.0 Prentice CA Progressive Conservative 30.4 Orchard CA Progressive Conservative 24.6Final round #ddd 600px 410px MacKay CA Progressive Conservative 64.79 Prentice CA Progressive Conservative 35.21Chandler 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. References See also Progressive Conservative leadership conventions 2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election 2003 Category:May 2003 in Canada Category:2003 political party leadership elections in Canada