Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, 2003

Liberal leadership election, 2003
Date	November 14, 2003
Convention	Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Campaign to replace	Jean Chrétien
Won by	Paul Martin
Ballots	1
Candidates	2
Entrance Fee	$75,000
Spending limit	$4 million
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The 2003 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election ended on November 14, 2003, electing Paul Martin as the party's new leader, replacing outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. The official campaign had lasted several months, although the candidates had been trying to get the position for years. Indeed, Martin's supporters had been pushing for leadership contests as early as 1997 and again in 2000.

Stakes for the race were very high as the winner would go on to become Prime Minister because the Liberal Party then formed the government, and the winner would take a party that was high in the polls and likely to be re-elected with an even larger majority.

Paul Martin spent the entire race as the unquestionable front runner, as his supporters had secured a lock on the party executives of the federal and most provincial sections of the party. They had made rules such as those regarding the sale of party memberships so onerous as to give Martin an unsurmountable advantage. Because of this, many potential candidates did not enter the race or dropped out, including John Manley, Allan Rock, and Brian Tobin. As Martin held a large lead throughout the campaign, despite refusing demands from Manley to reveal his donors, even most Chrétien supporters grudgingly voted for Martin rather than rally around any of the other candidates.

Martin easily captured the leadership with 93.8% of the delegates, however the party would be plagued by significant infighting afterwards, as he and his supporters moved to remove Chrétien supporters from cabinet and even from Parliament.

Simon Fraser University professor Doug McArthur has noted that Martin's leadership campaign used aggressive tactics, in attempting to end the contest before it could start by giving the impression that his bid was too strong, similar to the strategy being used by Brian Topp for the 2012 NDP federal leadership. McArthur blamed Martin's tactics for the ongoing sag in Liberal fortunes, as it discouraged activists who were not on side.

See also: Liberal Party of Canada leadership elections

Candidates

• 

  Paul Martin, Former Minister of Finance

• 

  Sheila Copps, Minister of Heritage and former Deputy Prime Minister

Withdrew

• 

  John Manley, Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister

Announced they would not run

• Allan Rock - Industry Minister
• Frank McKenna - Former New Brunswick Premier
• Brian Tobin - Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier
• Don Boudria - Government House Leader

Results

Candidate	Votes	%
First Ballot
Martin	3,242	93.8%
Copps	211	6.1%
Spoiled ballots	2	0.1%
Total votes cast	3,455	100%

Timeline

2002

• June 2 - Paul Martin resigns as Finance Minister of Canada. John Manley is named to replace him.
• August 21 - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien tells Canadians he will step down in February 2004.

2003

• February 13 - Sheila Copps announces she is going to run for leadership.
• March 7 - Martin announces he is going to run for leadership.
• March 17 - Manley announces he is going to run for leadership.
• July 22 - Manley drops out of the race.
• September 21 - Paul Martin's victory becomes a certainty when he secures 92% of the party delegates from across the country.
• November 14 - Martin officially becomes leader of the Liberal Party of Canada winning 3242 of 3455 votes against Copps.
• November 28 - Manley announces his retirement from politics.
• December 12 - Martin is sworn in as Canada's Prime Minister, along with his cabinet.

External links

• CBC report from the Convention, Video