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The Conservative leadership contest continues to attract some lesser-known candidates, with defeated former MP Pierre Lemieux throwing his hat into the race.

Lemieux is lining up supporters and donations for a leadership bid that will see him campaign in large part on a social conservative platform, trumpeting his anti-abortion views and support for the “traditional definition” of marriage.

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He announced his intention to enter the race on Monday in an email to Conservative supporters in the Ottawa-area rural riding he represented for nearly a decade until last year’s federal election.

“There are many reasons why, but a key one is that I feel that this is an extremely important time in the Conservative Party – both in terms [of] choosing a leader, but also in encouraging as many people as possible to join the party, to stand and be counted, so that they can help shape the party as it moves forward. It is a great time to bring new life into the party!,” Lemieux says in the email, a copy of which was obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.