Canada's official opposition party has announced that its new leader will be chosen on June 27, 2020.
The Conservative Party Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) said the party's new leader will be announced that day in Toronto after voting concludes.
"Leadership candidates are going to have their organizational abilities tested, and be given the opportunity to show how they’re ready to take on the tough job of being prime minister," said Lisa Raitt, co-chair of LEOC, in a media release. "This is going to be an exciting and competitive race."
The newly elected Conservative leader will likely be responsible for quelling any internal division within the party following its loss to the Liberals in the federal election.
Current Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer announced his intention to resign his position on December 12, stating publicly that it was for family reasons.
However, Global News reported that its sources indicated that Scheer’s decision to resign came in the wake of allegations that he used party funds to pay for his kids’ private school tuition. Dustin van Vugt, the executive director of the Conservative Party, issued a statement after the allegations were made and called Scheer's payments “normal practice for political parties.”
"All proper procedures were followed and signed off on by the appropriate people," he said in the statement.
Less than 24 hours later, van Vugt was fired by the Conservative's fundraising board and an internal audit was launched into how the party handles expenses.
Scheer is expected to stay on as leader until a replacement is chosen.
