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OTTAWA — Manitoba MP Candice Bergen has decided not to launch a bid for the Conservative leadership after considering the matter and consulting with colleagues.

It means yet another high-profile potential candidate has dropped out of contention, following announcements last week from Jean Charest, Rona Ambrose and Pierre Poilievre.

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Earlier this month, Bergen had decided against a bid, but she had a change of heart last week after Ambrose and Poilievre left the race. That potentially opened up space in the field for Bergen, particularly as a woman from Western Canada. She would have likely drawn strong support from grassroots prairie conservatives.

“Following recent developments in the leadership race, I was urged by many Conservatives to reconsider my initial decision,” Bergen said in a statement to the National Post on Wednesday evening.

“After taking time to assess what I could bring to the leadership race, I recognize that I have many strengths to bring to the table, but overall, I can best serve my caucus and my party by continuing in my role as Conservative House Leader. I look forward to an exciting leadership race and to working with the next leader of the Conservative Party in forming the next government.”