PRESS RELEASE

OTTAWA, May 6, 2021 – Two contenders for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, Scott Brison, and Jim Prentice, reaffirmed today their commitment to the future of the Party in addressing the issue of campaign leadership debt.

The candidates have committed to running debt-free leadership campaigns, meaning that as Leader, neither would ask the Party to assume campaign debts. Further, the two contenders guarantee that if they break this promise to the Party, then they would resign as Leader. The joint position stems from challenges issued at the CBC Newsworld “Politics” debate last Wednesday and P.C. Party debate Sunday.

“Any individual who wishes to be Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada should follow a fiscally conservative course. As individuals who are running for the job of Leader, we have a responsibility to lead by example. We must show Canadians through our actions that we subscribe to fiscally responsible government and accountability. It is only through a principled approach that our Party will earn back the trust of Canadians,” said a statement from the two candidates.

“Our party cannot start preparing for the next election with a new Leader saddling the Party with more debt. If one cannot run a fiscally responsible campaign, then that individual is not yet ready to be Leader of a conservative party,” continued the statement.

Brison and Prentice challenge the other candidates to make the same promise to the party membership: adhere to conservative principles, lead by example, and resign if they saddle the Party with the debt of their personal ambitions.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION


Jason Hatcher, Press Secretary to Jim Prentice: 613 863-6796

Asad Wali, Communications Director to Scott Brison: 416 274-5071