A man who originally sought the Conservative Party’s nomination in the Toronto metropolitan election has become the Liberal Party’s candidate in the upcoming by-election.
The Liberal Party announced Thursday that Scugog, Ont., city councilor Robert Locke will be its candidate in the Durham seat to replace former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole.
Locke said he decided to run as a Liberal candidate because the Conservative Party no longer agreed with his values, and that if elected, the Conservative Party would cut services and introduce American-style politics to Canada. He said this is because he believes it will be introduced.
“While Pierre Poièvre’s Conservative Party is pushing for cuts to critical services that support the middle class and bringing American far-right politics here to Canada, I am working to deliver a strong economy and a better future for families here in Durham. “We strive to do so,” Locke said in a statement. Media statement Thursday.
He said in addition to being a supporter of previous “versions” of the Conservative Party, he has also previously supported NDP candidates.
There was no objection to Locke’s nomination to the Liberal Party.
Less than a year ago, he praised Pierre Poièvre’s leadership when he expressed interest in the Conservative nomination contest, which was ultimately won by lawyer Jamil Jibani.
In May, Mr. Locke told the Port Perry Star that he was a believer in the Conservative Party under the Poièvre government.
“I have a very clear understanding of the policies that the Conservative Party of Canada is advocating, and I support them. That’s why I’m confident that I can put my name forward. Because I believe in the platform that the party wants,” Locke told the newspaper, describing himself as a fiscal conservative.
A Conservative Party spokeswoman said Mr Locke had purchased party membership in April, after Mr Poilievre took office, but did not meet the requirements to run under the party’s flag.
Sarah Fisher said in a media statement on Thursday: “Mr Locke has indicated to the party that he intends to run as a Conservative and is clearly upset that he was not allowed to run because he did not meet the requirements to win the nomination. “
Mr. Fisher did not specify what criteria he had not met. Standard requirements typically include submitting specific documents and collecting a minimum number of signatures within a set period of time.
Durham, which includes part of the city of Oshawa, Ontario, has been run by the Conservative Party since 2004.
A by-election must be called by the end of the month.
