The Conservative Party of Canada’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) met today to discuss the resumption of the 2020 Leadership Election. On March 26, the LEOC suspended the race due to the impact COVID-19 related health guidelines and government mandated closures were having on key processes needed to complete the race.

The LEOC took the time over the course of that suspension to re-evaluate the timeline needed to complete the race, and has concluded the Leadership Election can resume with adjustments to accommodate current circumstances, effective immediately. The membership deadline of May 15 will remain unchanged. The process will proceed with mail ballots, as required by the Party Constitution, and all ballots will need to be completed and received by August 21.  The result will be announced as soon as those ballots can be properly processed and examined by scrutineers while respecting any health guidelines in place at that time.

The safety and health of volunteers has been top of mind for the LEOC, and while the date to announce a new leader will be largely dependent on what health guidelines and government orders are in place in August, the LEOC has committed to monitoring the situation closely, and will look to confirm the announcement details in the coming weeks.

Conservative foreign policy will cut aid spending by 25% and put it back in the pockets of Canadian families

Today, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer detailed his plan for delivering strong Conservative leadership on the world stage.

On the same day the Munk debate on foreign policy was supposed to take place before Justin Trudeau forced its cancellation, Scheer shared details around four key pillars of his foreign policy plan which include:

• Cutting 25% of foreign aid spending – The reduction will come from middle- and upper-income countries as well as hostile regimes. We will use the savings to pay for policies that help Canadians get ahead at home and also redirect $700 million to strengthen foreign aid in the countries that need it most. We will continue to work in partnership with leading Canadian aid organizations including volunteer-focused groups who provide much-needed assistance to developing countries.

• Strengthening Canada’s commitment to traditional alliances and providing additional military and non-military support to Ukraine.

• Advocating for human rights on the world stage by using Canada’s Magnitsky legislation to target hostile regimes like Iran.

• Depoliticizing military procurement in order to properly and expediently supply the Canadian Armed Forces.

“Justin Trudeau has spent the last four years humiliating himself and all Canadians on the world stage with his weak, unprincipled leadership,” Scheer said. “Canadians deserve a Prime Minister that will once again make them proud and who will always stand up for Canada’s interests in an increasingly hostile world.”

Scheer highlighted the long and growing list of scandals and humiliations that have harmed Canada’s reputation during Justin Trudeau’s time in power, including his admiration for China’s “basic dictatorship,” his praise for Cuban communist dictator Fidel Castro, his disastrous India trip, and his disgraceful Omar Khadr settlement.

On foreign aid, Scheer said his plan will refocus Canadian help where it is most needed while helping more Canadians get ahead at home.

“At a time when Canadians are working harder than ever and not getting ahead, Trudeau is using their hard-earned tax dollars to support antisemitic organizations and prop up foreign dictatorships,” Scheer concluded. “Our plan will take Canadian tax dollars away from corrupt dictators and wealthy countries and return it to Canadians so they can get ahead.

“At the same time, we will continue to consider aid proposals which support non-development objectives such as minority rights and peaceful coexistence taking place in any country,” Scheer said.

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1. Independent Parliamentary Budget Officer Costing

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