Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Derek Sloan is an official candidate in the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada leadership race.
The first time MP reached the final hurdle required to appear on the ballot in the June 27 party election, paying $300,000 in fees and gathering 3,000 signatures of support.
He joins Peter MacKay, Erin O’Toole and Leslyn Lewis as other candidates who have reached the threshold, with the deadline to do so on March 25.
Other hopefuls, Rick Peterson and Rudy Husny, dropped out of the race while expressing frustration the party wouldn’t extend the deadline amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Peterson said an inability to hold large gatherings coupled with many Canadians facing a financial crunch at the moment, limited his ability to meet the parameters.
Jim Karahalios saw his name removed from the approved list of candidates on Friday after party members had lodged complaints against him. He was accused of sending emails to supporters asking for attacks against O’Toole, claiming his campaign chair, Walied Soliman, was advocating for the introduction of Islamic religious laws in Canada.