Ches Crosbie

On October 11, 2016, Progressive Conservative Party leader Paul Davis announced that he had written party president Mark Whiffen and asked for a leadership convention to be called. Davis, who had been facing a leadership review at the party's upcoming convention, stated he would remain party leader until his successor was chosen. Davis has since stated that will not rule out running again. The party subsequently delayed the leadership vote until 2018 in order to give the party time to change its leadership election system in its constitution from delegated to a mix of one-member-one vote and points per district.

Election Period means the period of time which begins by the death, retirement or resignation or announcement of the retirement or resignation, of the Leader of the Party; or in which Article 15-2 of the Constitution applies. For the purposes of the Leadership Selection Process occurring between 2016 and 2018 the Election Period began on October 11, 2016.

Rules

To apply to become an Accredited Candidate, a Prospective or Announced Candidate shall:

a. be a Member of the Party;

b. be eligible to stand for election as a Member of the House of Assembly;

c. apply in writing, using Form B, to be accredited as a Leadership Candidate;

d. file a nomination form, using Form C, containing the

i. legible signatures,

ii. residential addresses,

iii. telephone numbers, and

iv. district associations of 100 individuals, representing 51% of electoral districts, who are registered Members or registered Supporters of the Party;

e. provide a non-refundable registration fee in the form of a certified cheque in the amount of $10,000.00 payable to the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador;

f. plus a $10,000.00 deposit, in the form of a certified cheque, the amount will be refunded, less any imposed penalties or deductions as per Rules 122, 123 and 186(c).

• David Brazil - MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island (2010-present), former Minister of Service NL (2014) and Minister of Transportation and Works (2014-2015).
• Ches Crosbie - Prominent St. John's lawyer and son of former provincial and federal cabinet minister John Crosbie. In February 2017, Crosbie announced a province-wide listening tour in advance of the formal start of his campaign.
• Paul Davis - Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, MHA for Topsail-Paradise (2010-present), 12th Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador (2014-2015), former Minister of Health and Community Services (2014)
• Keith Hutchings - MHA for Ferryland (2007-present), former Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development (2011-2013), Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture (2013-2014), Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs (2014-2015)

• Sandy Collins - Former MHA for Terra Nova (2009-2015), former Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation (2014-2015)
• Steve Kent - MHA for Mount Pearl North (2007-present), former Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs (2013-2014), Deputy Premier and Minister of Health (2014-2015), and leadership candidate in the 2014 race, placing third. Accepted the position of CAO of Mount Pearl in October 2017 and subsequently resigned his seat.
• John Ottenheimer - Former MHA for St. John's East (1996-2007), former Minister of Education (2003-2004), Minister of Health and Community Services (2004-2006), and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2006-2007), CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (2015-2016), and runner-up in the 2014 leadership race.
• Ryan Cleary - NDP MP for St. John's South—Mount Pearl (2011-2015), 2015 PC candidate in Windsor Lake