OTTAWA—The list of contenders to replace Andrew Scheer is getting longer with Ottawa MP Pierre Poilievre considering a run in the Conservative party’s upcoming leadership contest.

Asked if he was not ruling out a leadership bid, Poilievre would only answer that “it’s too early to say” and that “lots of people” will put their names forward.

Poilievre refused to confirm Monday that Conservative activists are already making calls on his behalf, which would be the first step toward putting together a leadership bid.

“I don’t have any campaign organization because I don’t have any campaign,” Poilievre told reporters outside the House of Commons.

But the former Harper-era cabinet minister and Conservative finance critic did have some detailed — and seemingly prepared in advance — ideas about the qualities the party’s next leader should have.

“What I do know is that we need someone who will stand up, fight back and win — stand up for our principles, fight back against the corrupt Liberal cabal, and win the next election,” Poilievre said, repeating a variation of those lines in both official languages.

Have your say:

“That is the criteria for choosing a future leader.”

The Star reported Friday that Erin O’Toole, the Conservative’s foreign affairs critic and former cabinet minister, is in the early stages of putting together a campaign team. Activists are also organizing for Peter MacKay, the former Progressive Conservative leader from Nova Scotia, who left politics before the 2015 election.

The Hill Times reported Monday that Michael Fortier, a former Harper-era trade minister and vice-chairman at RBC Capital Markets, is considering a run for the leadership. A former Conservative campaign co-chair from Quebec, Fortier could pitch himself as a leader who could reverse the party’s fortunes in that electorally important province. He did not respond to an interview request Monday.

Ottawa-area businessman Bryan Brulotte confirmed Monday he would also toss his hat in the ring. His bid was first reported by CBC News. Brulotte, who runs a national staffing and consulting firm, admits he doesn’t have the name recognition of the other reported candidates. He noted, however, that he’s fluently bilingual, has ties to the party dating back to the 1990s, and believes he can keep the party’s various factions united.

That task may seem a little more daunting after the events of the last few days.

An open spat has broken out within Conservative circles over the party’s decision to use donors’ money to partly cover the cost of private school for Scheer’s children.

On one side is the Conservative Fund, the powerful fundraising arm of the party that counts Stephen Harper, Sen. Linda Frum, and former Sen. Irving Gerstein among its board members. A source close to the board told the Star on Friday that members were upset by the expenses, which they believe were withheld from their scrutiny.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Another Conservative source disputed that claim, saying the details were included in submissions to the board.

Caught in the middle of the fight is party executive director Dustin van Vugt, who defended the expenses as above board and approved by the appropriate authorities in a statement after the story broke Thursday. Reports suggested the board tried to fire van Vugt, but was rebuffed when it was pointed out that it did not have that authority.

Van Vugt did not return a request for comment Monday, and the party has remained tight-lipped about the internal squabble.

Read more about: