Progressive Conservative leadership convention, 1967

The 1967 Progressive Conservative leadership convention was held to choose a leader for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. The convention was held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 4x and 9, 1967. Robert Stanfield was elected the new leader.

The campaign

John MacLean was the first candidate to enter the race in January 1967. As an unknown, he was not taken seriously, and the campaign did not begin in earnest until George Hees and Davie Fulton joined the campaign. For most of the campaign, Hees and Fulton appeared to be the most likely winners. Stanfield?s entry on July 19th changed the situation dramatically. Duff Roblin?s entry on August 3rd ? a little more than a month before the vote -- changed the campaign again as the campaign began to focus more on the two popular premiers. Support for Donald Fleming?s campaign, in particular, began to decline as his supporters left to join the Stanfield and Roblin campaigns.

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There was considerable pressure on Ontario premier John Robarts to join the race until he announced on September 5th that the province would be holding an election on October 17th.

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Going into the convention, it appeared that any one of four candidates could win: Roblin, Fulton, Stanfield and Hees. There were many uncommitted delegates, especially from Quebec.

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