Leslyn Lewis

Leslyn Lewis (born 1970 or 1971)[1] is a Canadian lawyer and political candidate living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In February 2020, she was confirmed as an official leadership contestant for the Conservative Party of Canada,[2] after former party leader Andrew Scheer stepped down in December 2019. She is the first visible minority woman to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.[1]

Leslyn Lewis
Born1970/1971 (age 49–50)[1]
Jamaica
NationalityCanadian
OccupationLawyer
Websitewww.leslynlewis.ca

Early life and education

Leslyn Lewis was born in Jamaica, and moved to Canada in her youth.[3] She holds a Juris Doctor and a PhD from Osgoode Hall Law School,[1][4] as well as a masters degree in environmental studies from York University.[5]

Career

Lewis has practiced law for 20 years and is the managing partner of Lewis Law.[1] She also hosted a television show called Law Matters.[6] In 2018 she was appointed under Premier Doug Ford to the board of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.[1]

2015 federal election

Lewis began her political career in the riding of Markham–Stouffville, where she was Vice President and a primary fundraiser of the riding under Paul Calandra. In 2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed her as a replacement candidate to run the riding of Scarborough–Rouge Park only a few weeks before the vote. The riding had been plagued with a scandal, for which the previous Conservative candidate had been dismissed.[7][8] An article in the National Post referred to Lewis as a "high-quality substitute".[6][9][10] She received over 13,000 votes, placing a distant second to Liberal candidate Gary Anandasangaree.[11]

Conservative Party leadership candidate

In February 2020, Lewis was the first woman to be confirmed as an official leadership contestant for the Conservative Party of Canada,[2] following the stepping down of former Leader Andrew Scheer in December 2019. She is running to be the first visible minority woman to lead any of the three major federal Canadian parties.[1]

Lewis' platform is socially conservative.[12] She opposes the Canadian government's proposed ban on conversion therapy, citing the importance of parental autonomy,[13] and has stated she believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman.[14] She has publicly described herself as "pro-life, no hidden agenda" and as leader would have the Conservative Party move to ban sex-selective abortion and coerced abortion, increase government funding for crisis pregnancy centres (which counsel women against abortion), and she would end foreign aid funding for abortion.[15] Her candidacy has been endorsed by pro-life advocacy groups including the Campaign Life Coalition.[13]

She opposes carbon taxes and supports promoting green technology as an alternative policy.[13]

Electoral record
2015 Canadian federal election: Scarborough—Rouge Park
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalGary Anandasangaree29,91360.24+25.48$144,189.04
ConservativeLeslyn Lewis13,58727.36-4.23$59,291.73
New DemocraticKM Shanthikumar5,14510.36-20.63$58,736.40
GreenCalvin Winter1,0102.03-0.36$1,457.51
Total valid votes/Expense limit 49,655100.0–$204,974.26
Total rejected ballots 2350.47New
Turnout 49,89069.98New
Eligible voters 71,291
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]

References
  1. Werner, Kevin (February 1, 2020). "Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis could make Canadian political history in Conservative leadership race". Stoney Creek News. Metroland Media Group.
  2. Levitz, Stephanie (February 12, 2020). "Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis becomes official candidate for Conservative leader". National Post. The Canadian Press.
  3. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/running-for-conservative-leadership-isn-t-about-ticking-boxes-leslyn-lewis-1.4966170
  4. "WARMINGTON: Toronto lawyer sets sights on Conservative leadership | Toronto Sun". January 23, 2020.
  5. https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/canada/leadership-candidate-leslyn-lewis-on-representing-a-side-of-the-conservatives-you-may-not-have-seen-before-422093/
  6. "Conservatives name new candidate for Scarborough-Rouge River riding". Scarborough Mirror. Metroland Media Group. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  7. "Jerry Bance, Conservative caught peeing in mug, no longer candidate, party says". CBC News. September 7, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. "Tories drop two candidates after videos show one peeing in cup, the other making prank calls". National Post. 2015-09-07. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  9. Hopper, Tristin (2015-09-26). "Solving an 'electoral emergency': How parties find replacements for candidates who self-destruct". National Post. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  10. DiMatteo, Enzo (2015-10-14). "You choose the best of the rest". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  11. "SCARBOROUGH-ROUGE PARK: Liberal Anandasangaree elected new MP elected for new riding". Scarborough Mirror. October 20, 2015.
  12. Platt, Brian (March 10, 2020). "Leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis on representing a side of the Conservatives you 'may not have seen before'". The Chronicle Herald. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  13. Cullen, Catherine (March 10, 2020). "Conservative leadership contender Leslyn Lewis sells herself to social conservatives, takes shots at MacKay". CBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  14. https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/canada/leadership-candidate-leslyn-lewis-on-representing-a-side-of-the-conservatives-you-may-not-have-seen-before-422093/
  15. Turnbull, Sarah (May 22, 2020). "Three months out from Tory leadership vote, Lewis positions herself as unity candidate". CTV News. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  16. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Scarborough—Rouge Park, 30 September 2015
  17. Elections Canada – Final Candidates Election Expenses Limits
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