Kevin O’Leary to enter federal Conservative leadership race
Posted Jan 18, 2017 07:47:26 AM.
Last Updated Jan 18, 2017 08:44:10 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Businessman Kevin O’Leary has announced he is running for the Conservative leadership.
O’Leary said he intended to run in a video posted to his Facebook page Wednesday morning, moments before making the official announcement on CTV.
In the video, O’Leary said he is excited to run because “the potential of this country is absolutely immense.”
He will be competing against 13 other candidates, including MPs Kellie Leitch, Maxime Bernier and Steven Blaney.
Those already in the race faced off in a French-language debate Tuesday night that often saw Bernier the target of his rivals.
In a statement, O’Leary said Canadians need a prime minister who will kick start the economy and support business – particularly in light of political changes in the United States.
“Now, with the election of Donald Trump to our south, Canada’s largest trading partner is headed by a businessman with an aggressive strategy that could hurt the Canadian economy. Trudeau doesn’t stand a chance, and we deserve better,” he said.
“Canadians are looking for a prime minister who is not a career politician; a prime minister who will fight for them, and is not afraid to tell them how it is. They also want a prime minister who will be inclusive and not lower themselves to use divisive politics,” he said.
“Since the start of this leadership race I have looked for a candidate with these qualities, but it has become clear that I am the only one that can defeat Trudeau.”
O’Leary, who does not speak French but is now taking lessons, was not at the debate, since he had not officially registered at the time.
He has said the crowded field has reduced the debates, in his words, to “just a bunch of sound bites.”
Tuesday’s debate often saw Bernier the target of his rivals, with Leitch and Blaney in particular taking aim at the former cabinet minister on different topics.
The other participants were Lisa Raitt, Deepak Obhrai, Brad Trost, Chris Alexander, Michael Chong, Erin O’Toole, Andrew Scheer, Pierre Lemieux, Rick Peterson and Andrew Saxton.
