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Photo credit: The Canadian Press
By Curtis Galbraith
Federal Politics

Warkentin backing Poilievre in federal Conservative leadership race

Jul 7, 2022 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin says he is supporting Pierre Poilievre in the federal Conservative leadership race.

“I do believe that he’s a guy that’s best equipped to lead our party forward. It’s been quite an exciting leadership race and Pierre has been garnering support from coast to coast. It’s been quite a ride.”

“I am privileged to serve as one of his Alberta co-chairs for the campaign and look forward to getting through the rest of the campaign.”

Warkentin says he has several reasons for backing Poilievre, including that he grew up in Alberta and has been a defender of the energy industry.

“I think he’s the one guy that’s been able to bring the country together, recognizing the realities in Alberta but also recognizing the realities in other parts of the country and building a vision for what the country could be if we could all talk to one another and all build on one another’s strengths rather than trying to tear one region down against another region.”

Poilievre’s riding is in the Ottawa area.

Warkentin says while he had not seen the allegations against former leadership candidate Patrick Brown, he does say they would have to be “incredibly serious” to see the Brampton, Ontario mayor and former Ontario PC leader removed from the race.

“The party would have to have some pretty serious, reliable information of very serious allegations in order to disqualify Patrick Brown. I can’t speak to what those are because I’m not privy to that information but obviously, it is serious.”

The Canadian Press reported on Wednesday that there was an anonymous allegation that a private company was paying an organizer to work on the Brown campaign. The Brown side was talking to its lawyers and that their candidate was kicked out by the party to boost Poilievre’s campaign.

Meanwhile, Warkentin says candidates will be revving up their again campaign soon as ballots are now being distributed.

The CPC says it has sold a record 675,000 memberships ahead of the leadership vote.

by Curtis Galbraith