Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, 2003

Liberal leadership election, 2003
Winner Paul Martin
Resigning leader Jean Chrétien
Convention Air Canada Centre,
Toronto, Ontario
Date November 14, 2003
Ballots 1
Candidates 2
Entrance Fee $75,000
Spending limit $4 million

The 2003 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election ended on November 14, 2003, electing former Finance Minister Paul Martin as the party's new leader, replacing outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

Stakes for the race were high as the winner would go on to become Prime Minister, and the winner would take a party that was high in the polls without a significant challenger.

Paul Martin spent the entire race as the front runner, as his supporters had secured a lock on the party executives of the federal and most provincial sections of the party. Because of Martin's apparent strength, several prominent candidates, such as Allan Rock, and Brian Tobin, did not go beyond the formative stages.

Martin's sole serious challengers were John Manley and Sheila Copps, the former of whom withdrew before delegate selection began. Martin easily captured the leadership with 93.8% of the delegates.

The party would be beset by significant infighting afterwards, as he and his supporters moved to remove Chrétien supporters from cabinet and even from Parliament. Martin's initial tactics to secure the leadership were generally seen, in retrospect, as weakening his eventual tenure as prime minister.[1]

Candidates

Sheila Copps

Background

MP for Hamilton East, Ontario (1984–2004)
Deputy Prime Minister (1993–1996, 1996–1997)
Minister of the Environment (1993–1996)
Minister of the Multiculturalism and Citizenship (1996)
Minister of the Communications (1996)
Minister of Canadian Heritage (1996–2003)
Minister of Amateur Sport (1996–1999)
Copps, 50, was a candidate during the 1990 leadership election, finishing in third.

Date campaign launched: February 13, 2003

Paul Martin

Paul Martin
Background

MP for LaSalle—Émard, Quebec (1988–2008)
Minister of Finance (1993–2002)
Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (1993–1996)
Martin, 55, was a candidate during the 1990 leadership election, finishing in second.
Martin's loss during the 1990 leadership election result and Jean Chrétien's slim win during the 1997 election led to a period of infighting within the party, with Martin leaving cabinet in June 2002, and Chrétien, in the face of a leadership review, announcing his intention to step down February 2004.

Date campaign launched: March 7, 2003

Withdrawn candidates

John Manley

John Manley
Background

MP for Ottawa South, Ontario (1988–2004)
Deputy Prime Minister (2002–2003)
Minister of Industry, Science and Technology (1993–1995)
Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs (1993–1995)
Minister of Industry (1995–2000)
Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000–2002)
Minister of Finance (2002–2003)
Manley, 53, withdrew from the race on July 22, 2003 and endorsed Martin.

Date campaign launched: March 17, 2003
Date campaign ended: July 22, 2003

Declined to run

Results

First Ballot
Candidate Delegate Support Percentage
MARTIN, Paul Edgar Philippe 3,242 93.8%
COPPS, Sheila Maureen 211 6.1%
Spoiled ballots 2 0.1%
Total 3,455 100%

Timeline

2002

2003

References

  1. ↑ Mickleburgh, Rob (25 September 2011). "Topp’s NDP campaign tactics border on bullying, professor warns". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
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