The 2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election ended on March 20, 2004 with the election of Stephen Harper as the first leader of the new Canadian Conservative Party.

The leader was selected by a system in which each of the party's riding associations was allocated up to 100 points. In associations in which fewer than 100 members cast ballots, each ballot counted as one point. In associations in which 100 or more votes were cast, 100 points were allocated among candidates in proportion to the votes that he or she received.

Members voted using preferential ballots. If no candidate won a majority of votes on the first ballot, the ballots of the candidate with the smallest number of votes would be re-distributed according to the voters' second preferences.

Stephen Harper, however, won a first-ballot victory.

See also: Leadership convention

Contents

1 Winning candidate 2 Other Candidates 3 Dropped out 4 Announced they would not run 5 Results 6 Timeline 6.1 March, 2004 6.2 January, 2004 6.3 December, 2003 7 Breakdown by riding 7.1 Newfoundland 7.2 Prince Edward Island 7.3 Nova Scotia 7.4 New Brunswick 7.5 Québec 7.6 Ontario 7.7 Manitoba 7.8 Saskatchewan 7.9 Alberta 7.10 British Columbia 7.11 Yukon 7.12 Northwest Territories 7.13 Nunavut 8 Ridings won by candidate 8.1 Harper 8.2 Stronach 8.3 Clement 8.4 Stronach/Harper tie 8.5 Harper/Clement tie

Winning candidate

• Stephen Harper - former Canadian Alliance Leader

Other Candidates

• Tony Clement - former Ontario health minister
• Belinda Stronach - former CEO of Magna International

Dropped out

• Jim Prentice - Progressive Conservative Party 2003 leadership election runner-up

Announced they would not run

• Scott Brison - Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (has since defected to the Liberals)
• Mike Harris - former Premier of Ontario
• Ralph Klein - Premier of Alberta
• Bernard Lord - Premier of New Brunswick
• Peter MacKay - Progressive Conservative Party Leader
• Brian Pallister - Canadian Alliance Member of Parliament
• Bob Runciman - former Ontario public security minister
• Larry Smith - Publisher of the Montreal Gazette
• Chuck Strahl - Canadian Alliance Member of Parliament

Results

March 20, 2004

First Ballot
HARPER, Stephen Joseph 17,296 (56.2%)
STRONACH, Belinda 10,613 (34.5%)
CLEMENT, Anthony (Tony) Peter 2,887 (9.4%)
Points needed to win: 15,400.1

Each of 308 ridings had 100 points which were distributed by proportional representation according to votes cast by party members in the riding.

Timeline

March, 2004

• March 22 - Harper names former PC leader Peter MacKay the deputy leader of the Conservative party.
• March 20 - Stephen Harper wins on the first ballot with 56% of the vote.
• March 19 - The leadership convention opens in Toronto; the candidates give opening speeches.

January, 2004

• January 20 - Belinda Stronach formally announces the launch of her campaign to seek the Conservative leadership. She rounds out the field at three; no other serious contenders are now seen as planning an entry.
• January 16 - Fraser Valley MP Chuck Strahl annouces he will not seek the Conservative leadership, citing financial barriers.
• January 15 - Auto parts magnate Belinda Stronach and former Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement both announce their intention to run for leadership of the Conservative Party.
• January 13 - Peter MacKay declares he will not enter the race to lead the new Conservative Party of Canada.
• January 12 - Stephen Harper announces his entry into the race to lead the new Conservative Party of Canada. Earlier today, Jim Prentice drops out of the leadership contest, citing a lack of funds.

December, 2003

• December 30 - Bernard Lord, Premier of New Brunswick, reconfirms that he will not seek the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. He had been considered a potential frontrunner.
• December 10 - Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative MP, crosses the floor, and sits with the Liberal Party of Canada. Brison is the fourth PC MP, out of an original caucus of 15, to decide not to sit with the new Conservative Party of Canada.
• December 8 - The Conservative Party of Canada is officially registered with Elections Canada. The party's first interim leader is Senator John Lynch-Staunton, with a formal leadership race scheduled for March 2004.
• December 6 - The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada votes with a 90% majority in favour of merging with the Canadian Alliance.
• December 5 - The Canadian Alliance votes with a 96% majority in favour of merging with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.

Breakdown by riding

Newfoundland

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Avalon	27	22	51
Bonavista—Exploits	12	36	53
Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte	3	45	52
Labrador	0	50	50
Random—Burin—St. George's	13	31	56
St. John's North	30	26	45
St. John's South	17	21	62

Prince Edward Island

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Cardigan	11	11	77
Charlottetown	9	33	58
Egmont	9	23	68
Malpeque	12	18	69

Nova Scotia

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Cape Breton—Canso	9	23	68
Central Nova	6	24	70
Dartmouth—Cole Harbour	16	48	36
Halifax	13	38	49
Halifax West	15	44	41
Kings-Hants	6	37	57
North Nova	6	37	57
Sackville—Eastern Shore	10	51	39
South Shore—St. Margaret's	16	31	53
Sydney—Victoria	9	25	67
West Nova	4	51	45

New Brunswick

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Acadia-Bathurst	6	5	90
Beauséjour	2	50	48
Fredericton	7	64	29
Fundy	9	56	36
Madawaska—Restigouche	1	26	73
Miramichi	3	35	63
Moncton—Riverview— Dieppe	7	50	43
St. Croix—Belleisle	4	71	25
Saint John	9	45	47
Tobique—Mactaquac	3	59	38

Québec

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Abitibi—Témiscamingue	0	44	56
Ahuntsic	0	35	65
Alfred-Pellan	5	37	58
Argenteuil—Mirabel	0	63	38
Beauce	0	22	78
Beauharnois—Salaberry	23	14	63
Beauport	4	46	50
Berthier—Maskinongé	3	18	80
Bourassa	0	46	54
Brome—Missisquoi	4	59	37
Brossard—La Prairie	8	29	63
Chambly—Borduas	3	15	82
Charlesbourg	3	23	74
Charlevoix—Montmorency	0	20	80
Chateauguay—Saint- Constant	2	7	91
Chicoutimi—Le Fjord	0	64	36
Compton—Stanstead	15	43	43
Drummond	2	27	71
Gaspésie—Îles-de-la- Madeleine	0	50	50
Gatineau	3	32	66
Hochelaga	0	0	100
Honoré-Mercier	0	4	96
Hull—Aylmer	11	40	44
Jeanne-Le Ber	12	26	62
Joliette	0	40	60
Jonquière—Alma	0	29	71
Lac-Saint-Louis	8	39	53
La Pointe-de-l'Île	7	13	80
LaSalle—Émard	6	33	61
Laurentides—Labelle	0	4	96
Laurier	31	26	43
Laval	4	72	24
Laval—Les Îles	9	34	57
Lévis—Bellechasse	0	35	65
Longueuil	0	33	67
Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la- Chaudière	0	23	77
Louis-Hébert	7	20	73
Louis-Saint-Laurent	3	47	50
Manicouagan	2	19	79
Marc-Aurèle-Fortin	10	23	67
Matapédia—Matane	0	47	53
Mégantic—L'Érable	0	16	84
Montcalm	3	32	66
Mount Royal	25	50	25
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce— Lachine	4	40	56
Nunavik—Eeyou	0	40	60
Outremont	34	40	26
Papineau	17	36	47
Pierrefonds—Dollard	17	35	49
Pontiac	6	55	39
Portneuf	2	40	58
Québec	5	25	69
Repentigny	6	59	35
Richelieu	14	52	33
Richmond—Arthabaska	0	21	79
Rimouski—Témiscouata	15	46	38
Rivière-des-Mille-Îles	9	45	45
Rivière-du-Loup— Montmagny	0	8	93
Rivière-du-Nord	11	56	33
Roberval	0	52	48
Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie	5	33	62
Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert	1	5	94
Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot	0	26	74
Saint-Jean	28	31	41
Saint-Lambert	2	30	67
Saint-Laurent—Cartierville	15	44	41
Saint-Léonard—Saint- Michel	0	5	95
Saint-Maurice—Champlain	0	53	47
Shefford	2	16	81
Sherbrooke	0	32	68
Terrebonne—Blainville	4	20	76
Trois-Rivières	0	39	61
Vaudreuil-Soulanges	12	72	16
Vercheres—Les Patriotes	0	12	88
Westmount—Ville-Marie	30	39	31

Ontario

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Ajax-Pickering	12	57	32
Algoma—Manitoulin— Kapuskasing	8	64	28
Ancaster—Dundas— Flamborough —Westdale	11	67	21
Barrie	9	59	32
Beaches—East York	26	44	31
Bramalea—Gore—Malton	25	28	47
Brampton—Springdale	62	28	10
Brampton West	54	32	14
Brant	13	64	23
Burlington	12	60	27
Cambridge	11	64	25
Carleton—Lanark	6	67	27
Chatham-Kent—Essex	8	66	26
Clarington—Scugog— Uxbridge	7	68	24
Davenport	29	41	30
Don Valley East	16	62	22
Don Valley West	24	51	25
Dufferin—Caledon	14	56	30
Eglinton—Lawrence	37	39	24
Elgin—Middlesex—London	12	57	31
Essex	8	72	20
Etobicoke Centre	17	59	24
Etobicoke—Lakeshore	22	51	26
Etobicoke North	20	43	37
Glengarry—Prescott— Russell	5	72	23
Grey—Bruce—Owen Sound	7	68	24
Guelph	19	56	25
Haldimand—Norfolk	10	67	23
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes— Brock	6	67	28
Halton	17	64	19
Hamilton Centre	10	57	33
Hamilton East—Stoney Creek	7	56	37
Hamilton Mountain	16	74	11
Huron—Bruce	13	52	35
Kenora	9	51	40
Kingston and the Islands	16	62	23
Kitchener Centre	12	61	28
Kitchener—Conestoga	6	70	24
Kitchener—Waterloo	15	60	25
Lanark—Frontenac— Lennox and Addington	7	72	21
Leeds—Grenville	5	69	27
London—Fanshawe	12	68	20
London North Centre	11	67	21
London West	9	76	15
Markham—Unionville	40	40	20
Middlesex—Kent—Lambton	11	62	26
Mississauga—Brampton South	56	32	12
Mississauga East— Cooksville	15	54	31
Mississauga—Erindale	21	51	28
Mississauga South	18	60	22
Mississauga—Streetsville	28	51	21
Nepean—Carleton	5	69	26
Newmarket—Aurora	7	37	57
Niagara Falls	9	69	22
Niagara West—Glanbrook	8	71	21
Nickel Belt	6	34	60
Nipissing—Timiskaming	4	62	34
Northumberland—Quinte West	16	64	20
Oak Ridges—Markham	18	53	29
Oakville	15	65	20
Oshawa	15	60	25
Ottawa Centre	9	65	26
Ottawa—Orléans	6	65	29
Ottawa South	8	67	26
Ottawa—Vanier	9	60	31
Ottawa West—Nepean	8	66	26
Oxford	18	54	28
Parkdale—High Park	29	43	28
Parry Sound—Muskoka	17	49	33
Perth—Wellington	14	54	32
Peterborough	9	74	17
Pickering—Scarborough East	11	54	36
Prince Edward—Hastings	8	66	26
Renfrew—Nipissing— Pembroke	4	82	15
Richmond Hill	19	38	43
St. Catharines	15	66	19
St. Paul's	34	43	23
Sarnia—Lambton	18	59	23
Sault Ste. Marie	7	68	25
Scarborough—Agincourt	13	53	34
Scarborough Centre	14	59	27
Scarborough—Guildwood	13	55	32
Scarborough—Rouge River	34	40	26
Scarborough Southwest	15	60	25
Simcoe—Grey	11	71	18
Simcoe North	10	64	26
Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry	6	71	22
Sudbury	11	50	39
Thornhill	27	48	25
Thunder Bay—Rainy River	8	73	19
Thunder Bay—Superior North	28	48	24
Timmins—James Bay	5	36	59
Toronto Centre	25	38	37
Toronto—Danforth	22	45	33
Trinity—Spadina	25	42	33
Vaughan	42	23	35
Welland	8	69	22
Wellington—Halton Hills	11	64	24
Whitby—Oshawa	18	59	22
Willowdale	19	55	25
Windsor—Tecumseh	18	65	17
Windsor West	12	79	9
York Centre	20	56	24
York—Simcoe	16	52	32
York South—Weston	17	46	37
York West	14	19	67

Manitoba

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Brandon—Souris	4	74	22
Charleswood—St. James	5	67	28
Churchill	3	71	25
Dauphin—Swan River	2	67	31
Elmwood—Transcona	2	77	21
Kildonan—St. Paul	6	81	13
Portage—Lisgar	5	74	21
Provencher	4	86	10
Saint Boniface	4	73	23
Selkirk—Interlake	5	78	17
Winnipeg Centre	10	67	23
Winnipeg North	6	74	21
Winnipeg South	6	76	18
Winnipeg South Centre	10	64	26

Saskatchewan

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Battlefords—Lloydminster	0	89	10
Blackstrap	4	80	17
Churchill River	2	89	9
Cypress Hills—Grasslands	2	90	8
Palliser	4	77	19
Prince Albert	1	86	13
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre	6	74	19
Regina—Qu'Appelle	3	82	15
Saskatoon—Humboldt	8	79	14
Saskatoon—Rosetown— Biggar	4	84	11
Saskatoon—Wanuskewin	2	90	8
Souris—Moose Mountain	4	68	29
Wascana	6	69	25
Yorkton—Melville	5	84	11

Alberta

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Athabasca	2	83	15
Calgary East	4	86	10
Calgary North Centre	6	81	13
Calgary Northeast	4	71	25
Calgary—Nose Hill	5	83	13
Calgary South Centre	7	80	13
Calgary Southeast	4	85	11
Calgary Southwest	4	90	6
Calgary West	5	83	12
Crowfoot	1	92	7
Edmonton—Beaumont	3	77	21
Edmonton Centre	4	79	17
Edmonton East	2	84	14
Edmonton—Leduc	3	86	11
Edmonton—St. Albert	2	88	11
Edmonton—Sherwood Park	5	82	14
Edmonton—Spruce Grove	2	83	16
Edmonton—Strathcona	3	77	19
Lethbridge	2	91	7
Macleod	2	87	11
Medicine Hat	1	92	7
Peace River	2	84	15
Red Deer	2	90	8
Vegreville—Wainwright	1	89	10
Westlock—St. Paul	1	84	15
Wetaskiwin	1	94	5
Wild Rose	2	90	9
Yellowhead	1	89	11

British Columbia

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Abbotsford	3	93	4
Burnaby—Douglas	9	81	10
Burnaby—New Westminster	15	75	10
Cariboo—Prince George	2	85	13
Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon	26	66	8
Delta—Richmond East	6	67	27
Dewdney—Alouette	7	81	12
Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca	4	86	10
Fleetwood—Port Kells	6	80	15
Kamloops—Thompson	3	85	12
Kelowna	1	84	15
Kootenay—Columbia	1	91	8
Langley	7	78	15
Nanaimo—Alberni	4	88	8
Nanaimo—Cowichan	3	87	10
Newton—North Delta	3	74	23
New Westminster— Coquitlam	11	80	8
North Okanagan—Shuswap	3	89	8
North Vancouver	6	84	10
Okanagan—Coquihalla	3	79	18
Port Moody—Westwood— Port Coquitlam	18	63	19
Prince George—Peace River	1	87	12
Richmond	1	89	10
Saanich—Gulf Islands	5	85	10
Skeena—Bulkley Valley	3	82	14
Southern Interior	3	84	13
South Surrey—White Rock —Cloverdale	4	82	14
Surrey North	3	77	20
Vancouver Centre	10	56	34
Vancouver East	6	65	29
Vancouver Island North	3	88	10
Vancouver Kingsway	11	71	18
Vancouver Quadra	10	74	16
Vancouver South	14	75	11
Victoria	10	76	14
West Vancouver— Sunshine Coast	5	91	4

Yukon

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Yukon	6	62	32

Northwest Territories

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Western Arctic	9	53	39

Nunavut

Riding	Clement	Harper	Stronach
Nunavut	17	28	56

Ridings won by candidate

Harper

Dartmouth--Cole Harbour, Halifax West, Sackville--Eastern Shore, West Nova, Beausejour, Fredericton, Fundy, Moncton--Riverview--Dieppe, St. Croix--Belleisle, Tobique--Mactaquac, Argenteuil--Mirabel, Brome--Missisquoi, Chicoutimi--Le Fjord, Laval, Mount Royal, Outremont, Pontiac, Repentigny, Richelieu, Rimouski--Temicouata, Riviere-du-Nord, Roberval, Saint-Laurent--Cartierville, Saint-Maurice--Champlain, Vaudreuil--Soulanges, Westmount--Ville-Marie, Ajax--Pickering, Algoma--Manitoulin--Kapuskasing, Ancaster--Dundas--Flamborough--Westdale, Barrie, Beaches--East York, Beant, Burlington, Cambridge, Carleton--Lanark, Chatham--Kent--Essex, Clarington--Scugog--Uxbridge, Davenport, Don Valley East, Don Valley West, Dufferin--Caledon, Eglington--Lawrence, Elgin--Middlesex--London, Essex, Etobicoke Centre, Etobicoke--Lakeshore, Etobicoke North, Glengarry--Prescott--Russell, Grey--Bruce--Owen Sound, Guelph, Haldimand--Norfolk, Haliburton--Kawartha Lakes--Brock, Halton, Hamilton Centre, Hamilton East--Stoney Creek, Hamilton Mountain, Huron--Bruce, Kenora, Kingston and the Islands, Kitchener Centre, Kitchener--Conestoga, Kitchener--Waterloo, Lanark--Frontenac--Lennox and Addington, Leeds--Grenville, London--Fanshawe, London North Centre, London West, Middlesex--Kent--Lambton, Mississauga East--Cooksville, Mississauga--Erindale, Mississauga South, Mississauga--Streetsville, Nepean--Carleton, Niagara Falls, Niagara West--Glanbrook, Nipissing--Timiskaming, Northumberland--Quinte West, Oak Ridges--Markham, Oakville, Oshawa, Ottawa Centre, Ottawa--Orleans, Ottawa South, Ottawa--Vanier, Ottawa West--Nepean, Oxford, Parkdale--High Park, Parry Sound--Muskoka, Perth--Wellington, Peterborough, Pickering--Scarborough, Prince Edward--Hastings, Renfrew--Nipissing--Pembroke, St. Catharines, St. Paul's, Sarnia--Lambton, Sault Ste. Marie, Scarborough--Agincourt, Scarborough Centre, Scarborough--Guildwood, Scarborough--Rouge River, Scarborough Southwest, Simcoe--Grey, Simcoe North, Stormont--Dundas--South Glengarry, Sudbury, Thornhill, Thunder Bay--Rainry River, Thunder Bay--Superior North, Toronto Centre, Toronto--Danforth, Trinity--Spadina, Welland, Wellington--Halton Hills, Whitby--Oshawa, Willowdale, Windsor--Tecumseh, Windsor West, York Centre, York--Simcoe, York South--Weston, Brandon--Souris, Charleswood--St. James, Churchill, Dauphin--Sawn River, Elmwood--Transcona, Kildonan--St. Paul, Portage--Lisgar, Provencher, Saint Boniface, Selkirk--Interlake, Winnipeg Centre, Winnipeg North, Winnipeg South, Winnipeg South Centre, Battlefords--Lloydminster, Blackstrap, Churchill River, Cypress Hills--Grasslands, Palliser,

Prince Albert, Regina--Lumsden--Lake Centre, Regina--Qu'Appelle, Saskatoon--Humboldt, Saskatoon--Rosetown--Biggar, Saskatoon--Wanuskewin, Souris--Moose Mountain, Wascana, Yorkton--Melville, Athabasca, Calgary East, Calgary North Centre, Calgary Northeast, Calgary--Nose Hill, Calgary South Centre, Calgary Southeast, Calgary Southwest, Calgary West, Crowfoot, Edmonton--Beaumont, Edmonton Centre, Edmonton East, Edmonton--Leduc, Edmonton--St. Albert, Edmonton--Sherwood Park, Edmonton--Spruce Grove, Edmonton--Strathcona, Lethbridge, Macleod, Medicine Hat, Peace River, Red Deer, Vegreville--Wainwright, Westlock--St. Paul, Wetaskiwin, Wild Rose, Yellowhead, Abbotsford, Burnaby--Douglas, Burnaby--New Westminster, Cariboo--Prince George, Chilliwack--Fraser Canyon, Delta--Richmond East, Dewdney--Alouette, Esquimalt--Juan de Fuca, Fleetwood--Port Kells, Kamloops--Thompson, Kelowna, Kootenay--Columbia, Langley, Nanaimo--Alberni, Nanaimo--Cowichan, Newton--North Delta, New Westminster--Coquitlam, North Okanagan--Shuswap, North Vancouver, Okanagan--Coquihalla, Port Moody--Westwood--Port Coquitlam, Prince George--Peace River, Richmond, Saanich--Gulf Islands, Skeena-Bulkley Valley, Southern Interior, South Surrey--White Rock--Cloverdale, Surrey North, Vancouver Centre, Vancouyer East, Vancouver Island North, Vancouver Kingsway, Vancouver Quadra, Vancouver South, Victoria, West Vancouver--Sunshine Coast, Yukon, Western Arctic

Stronach

Avalon, Bonavista--Exploits, Humber--St. Barbe--Baie Verte, Random--Burin--St. George's, St. John's North, St. John's South, Cardigan, Charlottetown, Egmont, Malpeque, Cape Breton--Canso, Central Nova, Halifax, Kings--Hants, North Nova, South Shore--St. Margaret's, Sydney--Victoria, Acadie--Bathurst, Madawaska--Restigouche, Miramichi, Saint John, Abitibi--Temiscamingue, Ahuntsic, Alfred-Pellan, Beauce, Beauharnois--Salaberry, Beauport, Berthier--Maskinonge, Bourassa, Brossard--La Prairie, Chambly--Borduas, Charlesbourg, Charlevoix--Montmorency, Chateauguay--Saint-Constant, Drummond, Gatineau, Hochelaga, Honore-Mercier, Hull--Aylmer, Jeanne-Le Ber, Joliette, Jonquiere--Alma, Lac-Saint-Louis, La Pointe-de-l'Ile, LaSalle--Emard, Laurentides--Labelle, Laurier, Laval--Les Iles, Levis--Bellechasse, Longueuil, Lotbiniere--Chutes-de-la-Chaudiere, Louis-Hebert, Louis-Saint-Laurent, Manicouagan, Marc-Aurele-Fortin, Matapedia--Matane, Megantic--L'Erable, Montcalm, Notre-Dame-de-Grace--Lachine, Nunavik--Eeyou, Papineau, Pierrefonds--Dollard, Portneuf, Quebec, Richmond--Arthabaska, Riviere-du-Loup--Montmagny, Rosemont--La Petite-Patrie, Saint-Bruno--Saint Hubert, Saint-Hyacinthe--Bagot, Saint-Jean, Saint-Lambert, Saint-Leonard--Saint-Michel, Shefford, Sherbrooke, Terrebonne--Blainville, Trois-Rivieres, Vercheres--Les Patriotes, Bramalea--Gore--Malton, Newmarket--Aurora, Nickel Belt, Richmond Hill, Timmins--James Bay, York West, Nunavut

Clement

Brampton--Springdale, Brampton West, Mississauga--Brampton South, Vaughan

Stronach/Harper tie

Labrador, Compton--Stanstead, Gaspesie--Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Riviere-des-Mille-Iles

Harper/Clement tie

Markham--Unionville

See also:

• Canadian Alliance leadership elections
• Progressive Conservative leadership conventions