The Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia confirmed on Aug. 16 that Jamie Baillie will become the party’s next leader at a leadership convention scheduled Oct. 29-30 in Halifax.
Aug. 16 marked the last day for potential leadership candidates to file applications to be accredited as an official candidate by the party’s Leadership Selection Committee. After 5 p.m., the party’s chief elections officer Gavin MacDonald confirmed with 2010 leadership selection committee co-chairs Alice McCarron and George White that Baillie was the sole certified accredited leadership candidate according to the 2010 leadership rules. These rules were adopted in October 2009 by the party’s provincial executive.
“Last fall, after extensive consultation with our party’s grassroots members, the provincial executive put in place a fair, open and transparent leadership selection process, so that anyone who wished to seek the leadership would have ample time to consider running, organize, raise funds, recruit members and put their name forward as a candidate,” said Robert Batherson, president of the PC Party of Nova Scotia.
According to the party’s constitution, a leadership convention must still take place to formally elect Baillie as leader.
Without a contested leadership race, the party’s leadership selection committee will meet later this week to consider what changes to the 2010 leadership rules need to take place to reflect this reality in the weeks leading up to the convention.
The last time the PC party had to pick a leader three people had taken a shot at the leadership: Neil LeBlanc, Rodney MacDonald and Bill Black, with MacDonald being the successful candidate.
Meanwhile, interim Progressive Conservative Leader Karen Casey submitted her letter of resignation as leader to take effect immediately. Under the party’s constitution members of the Progressive Conservative Caucus will select a new interim leader, subject to a vote by the provincial executive, who will hold office until the leadership convention at the end of October.
“As party president, I know I speak for many in saying thanks to Karen for the countless hours she has put in crossing the province, in addition to fulfilling her responsibilities as party leader in the legislature and MLA for Colchester North,” said Batherson.
The PC Party of Nova Scotia’s provincial executive is scheduled to meet Saturday, Aug. 21. A meeting of the party’s constituency presidents is also scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11.
