O T T A W A, September 27th 2016

Hon. Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P.
Leader of the Opposition
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear Colleague,
I write to raise concerns on the neutrality of the newly appointed Deputy Opposition House
Leader and Question Period Coordinator, Mr. Chris Warkentin, M.P., in respect of the
Conservative Party of Canada leadership campaign currently underway.
It is my understanding that all Caucus and House Officers must remain strictly neutral as to
supporting any potential, declared and/or registered candidate for Leader of our Party.
It has come to my attention, however, that Mr. Warkentin has been actively campaigning on
behalf of our colleague, Mr. Andrew Scheer, M.P.
This is my understanding of how things unfolded. Yesterday, by way of my staff, I asked Mr.
Warkentin through his staff and in his capacities as Deputy Opposition House Leader and
Question Period Coordinator for a spot on the roster of Colleagues making Member’s
Statements (S.O. 31) just prior to Question Period. I was denied a spot on the grounds that
leadership candidates cannot be given extra spots for Member’s Statements outside those
regularly scheduled. I am not aware of either our Caucus’s agreeing to such a rule, nor of the
Leadership Election Organizing Committee of the Party asking for such a rule. This appears to
be a “rule” that has been manufactured either by Mr. Warkentin himself or his staff in order to
prevent my making a Member’s Statement that might bolster my campaign. If Mr. Warkentin
made up this rule, that is problematic. If his staff made up this rule without his knowledge,
that, too, is problematic.
Further, even if such a rule existed, when I made the request, I was a declared but not yet
registered leadership candidate.
Yesterday, Mr. Warkentin called me by telephone to object to my pointing out that I had been
denied a Member’s Statement. During that conversation Mr. Warkentin asserted that he was
not a Caucus Officer and, therefore, under no obligation to be neutral in the leadership race. In
a subsequent conversation, Mr. Warkentin revealed that he had been recording our telephone
calls and threatened to release the recordings publicly. This, too, strikes me as highly irregular
and very disturbing.
Brad Trost Campaign  PO BOX 11098, STN H  NEPEAN, ON K2H 7T8
613 505 0279 info@bradtrostcampaign.com www.brad4leader.ca

 Considering his behaviour, I hold serious doubts as to the ability of Mr. Warkentin to be and
to remain neutral, and about his fitness for the office to which you have appointed him.
With this in mind, I ask that you review with Mr. Warkentin his duty to be strictly impartial in
respect of the leadership election now underway. I also ask that you instruct him to refrain
from making statements or engaging in any activity which might indicate that he favours any
candidate over another. Additionally, I am very concerned that the Question Period
Coordinator and Deputy House Leader would see fit to record any private telephone
conversation, let alone release it publicly. I would like to receive some assurance from you and
from Mr. Warkentin that this is not an accepted practice among Caucus Colleagues.
I also ask you to reassure all members of our party, as well as present and potential leadership
candidates, that the election process will be conducted fairly by issuing a public statement
reiterating the duty of Caucus and House officers to be and remain neutral, and affirming your
commitment to uphold and, if necessary, enforce that neutrality.
Sincerely,

Brad Trost, M.P.
Copy: Mr. Chris Warkentin, M.P.; Mr. Andrew Scheer, M.P.; Mr. Deepak Obhrai, M.P.; Hon.
Michael Chong, P.C., M.P.; Hon. Steven Blaney, P.C., M.P.; Hon. Tony Clement, P.C., M.P.;
Hon. Lisa Raitt, P.C., M.P.; Hon. Maxime Bernier, P.C., M.P.; Hon. Dr. Kellie Leitch, P.C., M.P.;
Hon. Erin O’Toole, P.C., M.P.; Mr. Pierre Lemieux; Mr. Andrew Saxton; Ms. Adrienne Snow;
Mr. Kevin O’Leary; Dr. Dan Lindsay; and the Leadership Election Organizing Committee,
Conservative Party of Canada.

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