Photo by Whitehorse Star
Ryan Leef
Leef to remain on political sidelines
Ryan Leef, a long-time Conservative and one-time Yukon MP, has no plans to return to the political scene next year, he told the Star Thursday.
Ryan Leef, a long-time Conservative and one-time Yukon MP, has no plans to return to the political scene next year, he told the Star Thursday.
Leef represented the territory in Ottawa during Stephen Harper’s 2011-15 regime, and has been a staunch supporter of the federal Tories.
He is also a close ally to ex-Conservative MP Maxime Bernier. Last week, the latter quit the party to begin his own, after calling his ex-party “intellectually and morally corrupt.”
While Leef reinforced his admiration for Bernier on Thursday, he assured it has not detracted from his support for the Tories.
“I respect him very much,” he wrote in a statement.
“I believe he (Bernier) had a great leadership platform and has tremendous leadership potential,” Leef said.
He added he still has “every confidence” that Andrew Scheer will represent the Conservative Party well heading into the October 2019 election.
“He, the Conservative Party of Canada and the selected Yukon candidate can count on my loyal support,” Leef wrote of Scheer.
Scheer won over Bernier in the party’s May 2017 leadership contest by a razor-thin margin.
Leef’s statements came after other allies close to Bernier, including Ontario MP Alex Nuttall, announced that they will not be joining his party either, instead sticking to the Conservative platform.
Leef lost the 2015 election to current Liberal MP Larry Bagnell, who had represented the territory from 2000 to 2011.
Leef added he does not “have plans to be formally involved in the 2019 campaign,” and isn’t aware of the specifics involving Bernier’s decision.
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Comments (14)
Up 1 Down 0
Juniper Jackson on Sep 6, 2018 at 11:44 pm
The Yukon Conservatives made such a poor showing that they had to go, both federally and terrestrially.. No one could have foreseen what a ding dong Trudeau would turn out to be.. Mr. Leef did not provide good representation for us.. but then, Larry was also a failure this term... I can predict federally, Trudeau will never see another mandate..a one and gone.. locally? if the Conservatives do not run quality contenders, we will, unfortunately, see Silver back in office.
Up 9 Down 1
Darrell Drugstore's smartest neighbour on Sep 5, 2018 at 10:20 am
Maxime Bernier = the perfect definition of "sore loser"
Up 22 Down 14
Doc on Sep 4, 2018 at 3:30 pm
I can see it now. Ryan BraveLeef, in his camouflage, sitting at his camouflage laptop, hitting the thumbs down to all the negative comments about him...cause no one else would. Just go away!
Up 20 Down 2
Dean LaRue on Sep 4, 2018 at 11:17 am
If Ryan Leef ran for the Maxime Bernier Party it would be ENTERTAINING at least
Up 8 Down 22
Joe Tunglock on Sep 3, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Scheer is a liberal in blue clothing. He is literally Trudeau lite. Traditional liberals are going to vote for him....but conservatives, I don't know. There is no longer a right wing option in Canada...very excited for max's new party.
Up 17 Down 12
Groucho d'North on Sep 3, 2018 at 11:29 am
Bernier's new party will be seen as the far right in Canada's political spectrum. I image there are a number of Liberals across the country who are embarassed by who they voted for last election and the results of that choice and would be happier to vote closer to the middle of the spectrum in the next election. Scheer's plain old vanilla conservatives should pick up many of these disenchanted former Liberal voters.
Up 32 Down 16
Bob Ablanalp on Sep 2, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Leef LOST by 6,000 votes when he stood on his record back in 2015
We don't need this guy anywhere near Yukon politics ever again
Up 12 Down 16
Cactus Face Elmer on Sep 2, 2018 at 10:44 am
"Leef said he's proud to support his former colleague, saying that Bernier is the only Conservative candidate with his eyes fixed squarely on the North.
"He's the only one I've really seen so far who has taken an active lead in chasing policy discussions and policy ideas for his leadership campaign that directly include Northern, Arctic and rural Canadians," Leef told the CBC."
WOW - an amazing "endorsement" for someone who was kicked out of Harper's cabinet
Up 18 Down 18
Gordon of Riverdale on Sep 2, 2018 at 10:39 am
MEH - he already has a full time job as Donald Trump Junior's desiccationer
Up 29 Down 37
David on Sep 1, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Mr. Leef did an excellent job as MP and the YT would be lucky to have him again to represent them in Ottawa. The liberal party has done nothing to advance the economy of either the NWT or the Yukon and Canada wide they have us so far in debt that it will take miracles to get us out. We can only hope that the Conservatives take the next election.
Up 28 Down 5
Allan Stanley on Sep 1, 2018 at 10:53 am
WOW - a "story" about someone NOT running for office !
Up 15 Down 23
Dentist on Aug 31, 2018 at 9:14 pm
There is a god in heaven after all. And here I was, about to become an atheist.
Up 27 Down 18
Ginger Johnson on Aug 31, 2018 at 8:55 pm
OH ! COME ON Corporal Camouflage !
You know you want to run for the Mad Max Party in the next Federal Election
Up 26 Down 22
drum on Aug 31, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Who would want him back!!!!! Did he guide Donald Trump junior for his trophy hunt two weeks ago???????