Chong won’t seek Conservative leadership

WELLINGTON COUNTY – In a statement posted to social media on March 11, Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong announced he would not seek the Conservative leadership following the ouster of former party leader Erin O’Toole.

“Now is not the time. For now, Canada’s foreign policy will remain my focus,” stated Chong, who is the party’s foreign affairs critic and a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

To date, Leslyn Lewis, Roman Baber, Patrick Brown, Jean Charest and Pierre Poilievre have announced their candidacies. Others have until April 19 to vie for the position.

“In the upcoming leadership race, I’ll engage party members and candidates to help elect a Conservative leader ready for the serious challenges of our times,” Chong stated, thanking all who encouraged him to run.

The local MP, who has held his riding since 2004, previously ran and finished fifth in the 2017 leadership race that elected former leader Andrew Scheer.

The vote for a new party leader will take place on Sept. 10.