Power & Politics speaks with Conservative leadership candidates

Conservatives will pick their new party leader next month by mailing in ranked ballots for several weeks leading up to a convention in Toronto on May 26 and 27.

Over the past year, Power & Politics has spoken to all 14 candidates for the leadership. Here are those interviews.

Kellie Leitch

Kellie Leitch on assisted dying, pot, and her leadership bid

9 years ago

Duration 13:06

Tory leadership hopeful Kellie Leitch discusses her role in the barbaric cultural practices tip line, her former campaign manager and her plan for the Conservative party.

Kellie Leitch was the first to enter the race to be the next Conservative Party leader. This interview took place April 21, 2016. During the conversation, Leitch became visibly emotional when explaining her role in the party's 2015 election promise to introduce a barbaric cultural practices tip line.

Steven Blaney

'Reserves are not helping First Nations grow' says Steven Blaney

8 years ago

Duration 8:50

'I want to dismantle reserves because I feel that this is helping First Nations to move forward and being fully Canadian,' says the Conservative leadership candidate.

This interview took place Feb. 7, 2017, one week after the shooting at a Quebec City mosque. Blaney discusses why he wants to revisit the debate over wearing a niqab during the citizenship oath and his plans for First Nations reserves if elected leader.

Deepak Obhrai

Deepak Obhrai running to be Conservative leader

8 years ago

Duration 8:09

Deepak Obhrai running to be Conservative leader

In this Jan. 6, 2017 interview, Deepak Obhrai takes aim at rivals Steven Blaney and Kellie Leitch for their views on immigration, and makes the case for why the Conservative Party needs to expand its base to other Canadians.

Pierre Lemieux

Pierre Lemieux's Conservative leadership bid

8 years ago

Duration 8:05

Pierre Lemieux's Conservative leadership bid

Pierre Lemieux explains why he's against the government's anti-Islamophobia motion in this Feb. 15, 2017 interview.

Michael Chong

Leadership candidates sign up new Conservative members

8 years ago

Duration 7:50

Conservative leadership candidate Michael Chong discusses the state of the race on the last day for contenders to officially drop out of the leadership contest.

On the deadline day for candidates to drop out of the race, Michael Chong explains why he's not going anywhere. He also gets asked about that bizarre story of a journalist who tried to breastfeed his son. This interview took place March 31, 2017.

Rick Peterson

Conservative leadership candidate Rick Peterson

8 years ago

Duration 8:25

Conservative leadership candidate Rick Peterson

The Vancouver-based businessman weighs in on getting rid of corporate taxes and why he thinks MPs who don't show up in the House during the leadership race should reimburse their salaries. This interview aired Dec. 15, 2016.

Andrew Saxton

Andrew Saxton on why he wants to lead the Conservative Party

8 years ago

Duration 8:57

Andrew Saxton on why he wants to lead the Conservative Party

Andrew Saxton outlines the direction he wants to take the Conservative Party as leader. This interview took place Jan. 12, 2017.

Chris Alexander

Chris Alexander speaks to Rosemary Barton about Conservative leadership

8 years ago

Duration 16:31

Chris Alexander reflects on the 2015 campaign and talks about his bid for the Conservative leadership.

The former immigration minister discusses his role in the previous Conservative government's proposed barbaric cultural practices tip line and why he wants a second chance from voters. Rosemary Barton spoke with Alexander on Oct. 13, 2016.

Andrew Scheer

Andrew Scheer enters increasingly crowded Conservative leadership race

8 years ago

Duration 10:17

"I'm offering a more positive version of Conservative values," the Saskatchewan MP says.

In this Sept. 28, 2016 interview, the former House of Commons Speaker discusses social conservatism, his stance on gay marriage and abortion and promoting inclusiveness in the party.

Maxime Bernier

Maxime Bernier on Senator Beyak, Bombardier, and donation dollars

8 years ago

Duration 10:10

'Sometimes political correctness has gone a little bit overboard' says the Conservative leadership candidate.

The Quebec Conservative MP tackles the Bombardier loan controversy, interprovincial trade deals and his past ties to the Parti Québécois in this April 6, 2017 interview.

Erin O'Toole 

Erin O'Toole on mock video poking fun at Kevin O'Leary

8 years ago

Duration 8:47

'We're trying to say, you have to show your bona fides as a conservative first. Satire can sometimes be effective,' says the Conservative leadership candidate.

After O'Toole released an ad targeting Kevin O'Leary on Feb. 7, 2017, the leadership candidate explains his strategy behind the mock video in the era of "fake news."

Brad Trost

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'Put up or shut up,' CPC leadership candidate Brad Trost tells Kevin O'Leary

8 years ago

Duration 7:34

O'Leary alleges 'widespread vote-rigging' in Conservative leadership race.

Brad Trost shares his message to Kevin O'Leary after his leadership rival came out with claims of vote-rigging in the party's race. This interview aired March 17, 2017.

Lisa Raitt

Lisa Raitt targets O'Leary and Leitch

8 years ago

Duration 8:18

Conservative leadership contender Lisa Raitt launches a website to stop Kevin O'Leary from entering the leadership race.

Lisa Raitt weighs in on vote-rigging allegations and the Senator Don Meredith scandal in this March 20, 2017 interview.

Kevin O'Leary 

Kevin O'Leary on refugees and border security

8 years ago

Duration 11:37

'If you're a refugee and want to come to Canada, apply like everyone else,' the Conservative leadership candidate says.

In this bombastic March 29, 2017 interview, O'Leary makes the case for why he's the best person to fix the "collapsing" economy and explains his position on immigration, border security and refugees.