OTTAWA – Former immigration minister Chris Alexander is widely expected to enter the federal Conservative leadership race.
A source with close knowledge of the leadership race confirmed that Alexander is gathering the necessary signatures and financial support and building a team for a run. The source said his campaign is expected to focus on foreign policy and the economy.
The 48-year-old former ambassador to Afghanistan was seen as a rising star when he ran for the Conservatives in the Toronto-area riding of Ajax-Pickering in 2011. Two years later, Stephen Harper brought him into the cabinet as immigration minister.
But Alexander became embroiled in controversy during last year’s election campaign amid questions about the government’s handling of the Syrian refugee crisis. He was also criticized for promising, along with then-labour minister Kellie Leitch, to create a telephone tip line for “barbaric cultural practices.”
Alexander ended up losing to Liberal Mark Holland in the newly created riding of Ajax. Leitch was re-elected, and is one of five registered leadership candidates.
Kevin Ashe, a regional councillor in Pickering and former member of Alexander’s riding association, said he was asked this week to sign a leadership nomination form for Alexander. He hasn’t spoken to the candidate, however.
“I’ve been directly asked to do that, to sign,” Ashe told The Canadian Press on Thursday. “They’re doing whatever has to be done to formalize a run for the leadership.”
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Alexander did not return requests for comment.
But a report from the Buzzfeed Canada website quoted Alexander as saying at an event in Toronto on Wednesday: “You’re going to be hearing from me soon, I’m going to be running for leadership.” He also reportedly described the current field of candidates as “uninspiring.”
Leitch and fellow MPs Michael Chong, Tony Clement, Maxime Bernier and Deepak Obhrai are all in the race. With the exception of Obhrai, they are all cabinet veterans.
Jason Kenney and Peter MacKay, former cabinet ministers and potential heavyweights, have passed on the race. Kenney is seeking the Conservative leadership in Alberta and MacKay says he wants more time with his young family.
Alexander isn’t the only Toronto-area Conservative looking to join the leadership race. There have been reports that former veterans affairs minister Erin O’Toole and Lisa Raitt, who served as natural resources, labour and transport minister, are weighing the idea.
Alexander was Canada’s first ambassador to Afghanistan, serving in the wartorn country from 2003 to 2005, before becoming the United Nations’ second-in-command in the country. He returned to Canada in 2009 and was approached to run for office by both the Liberals and Conservatives.
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