Names in the mix: a list of potential Conservative leadership contenders

OTTAWA – The Conservative leadership race is underway and the deadline to register as a candidate and meet the first round of requirements is Feb. 27.

These candidates have officially declared they intend to run:

— Richard Decarie: political aide under former Conservative leader Stephen Harper while in opposition, helped run Harper’s Quebec operations.

— Marilyn Gladu: Conservative MP for Ontario riding of Sarnia-Lambton, formerly a professional engineer.

— Peter MacKay: former Progressive Conservative leader, Conservative cabinet minister and longtime MP from Nova Scotia, who now lives in Toronto.

— Rick Peterson: Alberta businessman, candidate in 2017 leadership campaign.

— Aron Seal: former director of policy for two Conservative cabinet ministers.

— Bobby Singh: entrepreneur and Conservative candidate in 2019 election in riding of Scarborough-Rouge Park.

— Derek Sloan: Conservative MP for the Ontario riding of Hastings-Lennox and Addington.

Others, in alphabetical order, who are considering bids:

— Michael Chong: former Conservative cabinet minister, current MP for Ontario riding of Wellington-Halton Hills. Ran in the 2017 race.

— Michelle Rempel Garner: Conservative MP for the riding of Calgary Nose Hill.

— Vincent Guzzo: movie-theatre mogul from Quebec who also stars in the reality-TV program “Dragons’ Den.”

— Rudy Husny: longtime Quebec operative for the Conservative party, and businessman.

— Erin O’Toole: former Conservative cabinet minister and current MP from the Toronto-area riding of Durham. Ran in the 2017 race.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2020.