Marc Dalton makes Tory leadership bid official online

B.C. MP Marc Dalton has put his name forward to be the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Dalton, 61, launched his campaign on Twitter on Sunday, saying in a posted video that one of his first actions as leader would be to initiate a public inquiry into how the federal Liberals handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dalton accused the Liberals of using pandemic contracts to line the pockets of their friends and making decisions based on politics rather than public health.

Dalton was first elected to the House of Commons in 2019, representing Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge.

Dalton's entrance means there are now four sitting MPs running, including Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis and Scott Aitchison, who also announced his leadership bid on Sunday.

Aitchison, 49, chose a craft brewery in his hometown of Huntsville, Ont., for his opening event, promising to bring an end to the hyper-partisan antics and political games that are the norm now in Canadian politics.

“More partisan bickering is simply not the answer,” he said, as an energetic crowd waved colourful signs simply printed with the word “Scott” on them. “Solving problems requires real leadership. I've been in Parliament now two terms. And I am dismayed by the energy wasted on political games, instead of getting things done..”

There are now eight candidates in total, with the four sitting MPs joined by former Quebec premier Jean Charest, Brampton, Ont., Mayor Patrick Brown, independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber and Saskatchewan businessman Joseph Bourgault.