Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, 2003

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Liberal leadership convention, 2003
Date November 14, 2003
Location Toronto, Ontario
Campaign to replace Jean Chrétien
Won by Paul Martin
Candidates 2
Entrance Fee $75,000
Spending limit $4 million
Liberal leadership conventions
1919 · 1948 · 1958 · 1968 · 1984 · 1990 · 2003 · 2006

The 2003 Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention ended on November 14, 2003, electing Paul Martin as the party's new leader, replacing outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. The official campaign had lasted several months, although the candidates had been trying to get the position for years. Indeed, Martin's supporters had been pushing for leadership contests as early as 1997 and again in 2000.

Stakes for the race were very high as the winner would become Prime Minister, and would take over party that was high in the polls and likely to be re-elected with an even larger majority.

Paul Martin spent the entire race as the unquestionable front runner, as his supporters had secured a lock on the party executives of the federal and most provincial sections of the party. They had made rules such as those regarding the sale of party memberships so onerous as to give Martin an unsurmountable advantage. Because of this, many potential candidates did not enter the race or dropped out, including John Manley, Allan Rock, and Brian Tobin. As Martin held a large lead throughout the campaign, despite refusing demands from Manley to reveal his donors, even most Chrétien supporters grudgingly voted for Martin rather than rally around any of the other candidates.

Martin easily captured the leadership with 93.8% of the delegates, however the party would be plagued by significant infighting afterwards, as he and his supporters moved to remove Chrétien supporters from cabinet and even from Parliament.

See also: Liberal leadership conventions

Contents

[edit] Candidates

[edit] Withdrew

[edit] Announced they would not run

[edit] Results

First ballot

First ballot
Martin 3,242 93.8%
Copps 211 6.1%
Spoiled ballots 2 0.1%
Total votes cast 3,455

[edit] Timeline

[edit] 2002

[edit] 2003

  • February 13 - Sheila Copps announces she is going to run for leadership.
  • March 7 - Martin announces he is going to run for leadership.
  • March 17 - Manley announces he is going to run for leadership.
  • July 22 - Manley drops out of the race.
  • September 21 - Paul Martin's victory becomes a certainty when he secures 92% of the party delegates from across the country.
  • November 14 - Martin officially becomes leader of the Liberal Party of Canada winning 3242 of 3455 votes against Copps.
  • November 28 - Manley announces his retirement from politics.
  • December 12 - Martin is sworn in as Canada's 21st Prime Minister, along with his cabinet.

[edit] External links