Winnipeg resident Shola Agboola, recent federal Conservative candidate for Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, has been appointed by the Conservative Party of Canada to the Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC).
He is the first Black to be appointed as part of the powerful federal committee for the Conservative Party of Canada to usher in a new leader and a potential Prime Minister of Canada.
LEOC is responsible for overseeing the rules, dates, and processes for the Conservative Leadership race, which was announced on March 2. Agboola, the only representative for Manitoba, attended the inaugural meeting in Ottawa on February 26 with other LEOC members. The committee of twenty-one includes Party executives and National Councillors, current and former MPs, and other prominent Conservatives. LEOC is chaired by Ian Brodie, a professor at the University of Calgary and former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The new Conservative Leader will be announced on September 10, 2022. The cut-off date for Conservative memberships is June 3, 2022. Candidates have until April 19 to enter the race and are required to pay a non-refundable $200, 000 entry fee along with a refundable $100,000 compliance deposit.
“It is an honour to be called upon to serve my party and our country on the leadership election committee at this critical time of our political history. As a Canadian of African heritage, I believe strongly in diversity and inclusion within the political system. My involvement in theleadership election race is important to immigrants in my community in Manitoba and across Canada and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring our perspectives to decision-making table.Political engagement at the grassroots is important to bring positive change to our community and country,” says Agboola in a public statement.
During the pandemic, Agboola’s charity foundation (SAGA FOUNDATION) collaborated with International Hope Canada to send a container of medical supplies and equipment to India during their COVID crisis. Agboola also helped deliver large quantities of medical supplies to other countries in Asia and Africa during the pandemic.
