OTTAWA, Aug 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The Canadian Alliance national caucus has voted to have its leadership elections in mid-March with a final decision on the exact date scheduled for next month. With the date set, it is expected that current Alliance Leader and Leader of the Opposition Stockwell Day will step down in December.
Global television speculated that possible contenders for the Alliance leadership include Stockwell Day, Stephen Harper, Alliance MPs John Reynolds, Brian Pallister, Keith Martin and former Conservative Cabinet Minister Jake Epp. However, in an interview with the Canadian Press today, Epp denied that he would seek the leadership. “I’m out of politics, I’m out of public life,” he said.
In related news, CP reports that the federal Tories will ask dissident Canadian Alliance MPs to join their ranks in the Commons when the two groups meet today in Quebec. The National Post reports that Day and Harper have agreed to avoid negative attacks if they compete against each other in the campaign.
See related coverage: https://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSPolitics0108/16_tories-cp.html https://toronto.globaltv.com/ca/news/stories/news-92296120010817-080822.html https://www.canoe.ca/NationalTicker/CANOE-wire.Alliance-Epp.html https://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?f=/stories/20010817/650798.html