OTTAWA — Canada’s Conservatives need a way back.

In many other Western democracies — including the big one just to the south — the political right has been on the rise lately, rallying behind leaders who tap into voters’ anger, frustration and fears. But Canada’s Conservatives are in the political wilderness, still smarting from their defeat by Justin Trudeau and his Liberals in October 2015, and lacking a permanent leader to replace Stephen Harper, the former prime minister, who quickly dropped from sight after the election.

So the Tories are asking: Who can take up our standard, cross swords with a charismatic and popular opponent, and lead us back to power in Parliament?

It will not be Rona Ambrose, the interim leader since Mr. Harper left. Though she is generally seen as having done a good job under the circumstances, party rules bar her from running for the permanent post.

Fourteen candidates have joined the race, though, and the Tories are sifting through them to choose a leader on May 28.