Independent MPP Roman Baber to enter federal Conservative leadership race

Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber is set to enter the federal Conservative leadership race on Wednesday night — making it officially a three-way contest.

Baber was kicked out of Premier Doug Ford’s caucus over a year ago for speaking out against COVID-19 lockdowns. He recently raised concerns about the federal Liberal government’s invoking of the Emergencies Act in an effort to end anti-government protests in Ottawa and blockades at international border crossings.

The York Centre MPP says he considers himself to be the underdog in the race, competing against well-known federal conservatives like interim leader Pierre Poilievre,  Haldimand-Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis, and former Quebec premier Jean Charest, who is reportedly planning to enter the race this week.

Poilievre and Lewis have also opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates and health restrictions, but Baber says what sets him apart is the fact that he spoke out against pandemic measures first.

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Lewis announced her leadership bid on Tuesday and Charest is expected to launch his campaign in Calgary on Thursday.

Lewis was the third-place finisher in the 2020 leadership race and enjoyed heavy backing from social conservatives and those in Western Canada.

There have already been efforts from Poilievre’s campaign to dismiss the credentials of Charest, even before he officially enters the race.

Leo Housakos is a co-chair on Poilievre’s campaign and worked on Charest’s campaign in Montreal when he ran for leadership in 1993. He says the former federal Progressive Conservative leader is a “blast from the past” and has not stayed active in the modern version of the party.

Brampton mayor Patrick Brown is expected to announce his candidacy in the coming days.

Candidates have until Apr. 19 to declare their intention to run. The new leader will be named Sept. 10.

Others who are reportedly considering bids

Scott Aitchison: He’s the two-term Ontario MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka. Before that, he served as the mayor of Huntsville, Ont. He confirmed he’s building a team and would have more to say later next week. Most recently, he’s served as the Conservative critic for labour.

Peter MacKay: He’s a former cabinet minister and leader of one of the Conservative party’s predecessors, the Progressive Conservative party. He placed second to O’Toole in the 2020 leadership race in a contest many felt he was likely to win. In fact, MacKay is still fundraising to pay down this debts from the contest.

Tasha Kheiriddin: The political commentator and consultant has said she’s been encouraged to run and is taking the idea seriously.

Michael Chong: The longtime Ontario MP ran in 2017 and recently said he hasn’t ruled out the idea of entering the race. He serves as the Conservative critic for foreign affairs.

With files from The Canadian Press