Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre launched his leadership bid by saying he is running as the next prime minister.
In a four minute video Posted on social media Saturday night, Poilievre criticizes government spending and says he wants to make “Canada the freest country in the world”.
The member for Carleton does not mention the name of the Conservative Party or the leadership race, saying only that he wants to be Prime Minister.
Mr Poilievre is the first candidate to announce his intention to run for party leader after MPs forced Erin O’Toole out of office three days ago. Portage—Lisgar MP Candice Bergen has served as interim Leader of the Official Opposition in Ottawa ever since.
Many Tories saw Poilievre, an Ottawa-area MP and party finance critic, as a frontrunner in the race.
Mr Poilievre is racing ahead of the official start of the race as the party’s election committee does not yet exist and no rules have been published.
As such, he cannot start fundraising. A document attached to his launch video lists the options supporters can choose to help him.
To see in video