Conservative seeking Saint John nomination says he's stepping aside for 'parachute candidate'

A doctor hoping to run for the Conservative Party of Canada in Saint John-Kennebecasis says he's suspending his campaign because higher-ups in the party have already chosen the candidate.

In a letter to his supporters, Jeff Steeves said he had a series of interviews with party officials locally and in Ottawa "to ensure that my candidacy would be legitimate and that no favored candidates were waiting in the wings."

"I was encouraged to run," wrote Steeves, an ophthalmologist who launched his campaign more than two months ago.

But recently, he said, he was told to step aside because a nominee of "national interest" was chosen to run.

Typically, according to party rules, the local Conservative riding association would be involved in choosing a candidate. People would submit their nominations, would be vetted, then registered party members in that riding would vote for their favourite.

The rules also say a national committee is able to reject any person before or after nomination, "at any time on any grounds," that it sees fit.

In his letter, Steeves said the nominee he was asked to step aside for is a "parachute candidate," referring to a practice of a party leader choosing a candidate who doesn't live in the area and ensuring that person gets the nomination, instead of letting the competition play out.

Steeves declined to provide an interview, saying his letter speaks for itself.

But Randall Goodwin, a supporter and member of Steeves's campaign, said interfering with the nomination process, while technically allowed, is bad for democracy,

Goodwin said in an interview that choosing a parachute candidate is "stripping the people's voice."

"We join the party so we can have a democracy, to go vote for the candidate we want to represent our riding," he said.

Goodwin and Steeves said the chosen candidate has roots in New Brunswick but lives in Toronto.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to appear at a fundraising event in Saint John on Friday. The invitation says Melissa Young is the host. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

The Conservative Party of Canada did not respond to requests for an interview and did not confirm whether a parachute candidate was indeed chosen for Saint John-Kennebecasis.

At least two other people, besides Steeves, have been campaigning for the nomination: Lisa Keenan and James Robertson.

In an interview, Keenan confirmed her nomination papers are in and said she has not been told to step down.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm still running," Keenan said.

Liberals, Conservatives both criticized

During this election season, both the Conservative and Liberal parties have been criticized for sidestepping the nomination process.

The Conservative Party has been accused several times of handpicking candidates and bringing someone in from outside, but has previously denied the allegations.

On the Liberal side, Justin Trudeau announced that he chose Laura Palestini as the candidate for LaSalle–Émard–Verdun in Montreal without a nomination process.

According to Liberal Party rules, the leader has the authority to designate a candidate in any election, without the need for a nomination meeting.