Kellie Leitch Tears Up Over Role In Barbaric Cultural Practices Tip Line

CBC | By Peter Zimonjic, CBC News

Posted: 04/22/2016 7:21 am EDT Updated: 04/22/2016 7:31 am EDT

Tory leadership candidate Kellie Leitch became visibly emotional while trying to explain her decision to front the launch of the Conservatives tip line for reporting barbaric cultural practices during the recent federal election.

The former minister in Stephen Harper's government told CBC News Network's Power & Politics host Rosemary Barton that she wishes she never took part in the election announcement.

Kellie Leitch responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, April 27, 2015. (Photo: Sean Kilpatrick/CP)

"I've had a lot of time to think about this since the campaign took place and if could go back in time, which I can't, I would change things," Leitch said. "I would not have made that announcement that day.

"As minister of status of women I was focused on making sure that we eliminated violence against women and girls especially making sure we advocated for women's rights," she explained.

Leitch, who is also a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, said her intention was to ensure that if women and children needed to "pick up the phone" to call for help that someone would answer, but admits that "the message was lost."

"We weren't talking about race, we were talking about kids ... but that message was completely overtaken and I regret that, and I regret that it occurred, and it shouldn't have been done," she said.

The Simcoe-Grey MP refused to reveal who in the Conservative Party came up with the idea for the tip line saying "this is not a time for pointing fingers at people or looking at what happened."

When the Tories lost the election they also lost the chance to implement the promised tip line.

Campaign manager's DUI charges

The leadership candidate also addressed the recent arrest and impaired driving charges laid against her campaign manager, Nick Kouvalis.

Kouvalis was the campaign manager for Rob Ford during his 2010 election win before switching to lead John Tory's campaign in 2014. He was arrested in the Windsor area on the weekend and subsequently admitted that he has been struggling with alcoholism.

"Nick is a friend of mine, but he resigned immediately after this event," Leitch said. "What I hope for Nick, and for his family, is that he's provided the support and ability to seek the health care help that he requires."

Leitch said if Kouvalis seeks rehabilitation she "absolutely" would be "happy to have a conversation with him about participating" in her campaign again.

Leadership issues

In explaining why she was first to announce her intention to run for the Conservative Party leadership, Leitch said she really wants the job.

"You've got to work hard if you want something and I am willing to do that," she said.

Leitch, who spoke on a wide variety of subjects, also said that the government's new assisted dying legislation is "convoluted" and that she had problems with physician's conscience rights, and the lack of focus on palliative care.

She also said she doesn't agree with the government's move to legalize marijuana insisting it is a "dangerous drug" with "huge ramifications on children," and should be heavily regulated.

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:

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Conservative Leadership Race: Who May Run?

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Stephen Harper is the only leader the Conservative Party of Canada has ever known. But after losing government to Justin Trudeau's Liberals, Conservatives will now need to find a successor. Will it be a former Reformer like Harper? A Red Tory? A party stalwart or someone younger? Here are some names being tossed out as potential contenders...
Who's in?
First elected in 2006, Bernier served as minister of industry and minister of foreign affairs — a position he resigned in 2008 after leaving government documents at the home of an ex-girlfriend with ties to the Hells Angels. A high-profile MP from Quebec, he was reappointed to cabinet in 2011 in the junior role of minister of state for small business and tourism. He's already announced that he's going for it.
Dr. Kellie Leitch, a pediatric surgeon, outgoing minister of labour and minister for the status of women, reportedly has a team in place to mount a campaign. First elected in 2011, Leitch was easily re-elected in the Ontario riding of Simcoe-Grey. Though also considered a Red Tory, Leitch raised eyebrows during the campaign by declaring herself "pro-life" and announcing government plans to introduce a tip line for so-called "barbaric cultural practices."
Chong, who quit the Harper cabinet in 2006 on a matter of principle, is also running. The longtime Ontario MP has earned a reputation as a bit of a "rebel," thanks to his Reform Act and calls for conservatives to do more to fight climate change.
Tony Clement cut his teeth in Ontario politics before making the jump to the federal arena. He ran against Harper for leadership of the Conservative Party in 2004, but finished a distant third. Clement served as minister of health, minister of industry, minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, and Treasury Board president. He jumped into the race in June 2016.
Deepak Obhrai, a former Reform MP from Alberta who was first elected in 1997, is the dean of the Conservative Party caucus. He formally jumped into the race in July 2016.
Andrew Scheer, a Saskatchewan MP who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 2011 to 2015, joined the race in Sept. 2016. Scheer gave up his Opposition House leader role earlier that month to continue exploring a bid.
Who's almost in?
The social conservative from Saskatchewan jumped into the race in August 2016. Trost, first elected in 2004, is anti-abortion, anti-same-sex marriage, but is also very fiscally conservative.
The Toronto-based communications consultant announced in August 2016 that she was going to make a bid. Snow worked for policy think-tanks but is touting her experience outside the political bubble.
Who's thinking about it?
First elected in 2008, Lisa Raitt was perhaps the most high-profile woman in Harper's inner circle. Her name was also floated as a possible contender for the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership. Raitt served as minister of natural resources, minister of labour, and most recently as minister of transport. While several other Ontario cabinet ministers went down in defeat to Liberals, she was re-elected in the riding of Milton by more than 2,400 votes. Another Red Tory, she has not yet made her intentions known but has been vocal about the Conservatives' struggle to appeal to women voters.
The Ontario MP and former veterans affairs minister is mulling a bid and, reportedly, winning over party members. A former air force captain first elected in 2012, O'Toole has connections in Atlantic Canada and the GTA, and is seen as more of a fresh face.
The Quebec MP and former public safety minister stepped down from his critic role in Sept. 2016 to consider making a run.
The former immigration minister and Ontario MP confirmed to HuffPost in Sept. 2016 that he is preparing to make a bid. First elected in 2011, Alexander was defeated four years later. He faced questions over his handling of Canada's response to the Syrian refugee crisis. He also joined Leitch in that ill-fated campaign announcement of a tip line for "barbaric cultural practices."
The business mogul and reality TV star told CBC News he's considering launching a bid. Though he's never held elected office, O'Leary said his focus would be on the economy. "Every word that comes out of a politician's mouth, including mine, should I elect to go for this, is how does it create the next incremental job," O'Leary said. "That's what I care about."
Michelle Rempel became the youngest woman ever appointed to cabinet when she was named minister of state for Western economic diversification in 2013. First elected in 2011, Rempel was re-elected in the new riding of Calgary Nose Hill by more than 18,000 votes. She has often spoken out about the sexism women in politics face and recently addressed that issue with a series of provocative tweets that made clear she is mulling a run. "I am competent, proven, and ready," she wrote. "Here's the question – are you ready for someone like me?"
Doug Ford, a controversial former Toronto city councillor, is considering a run, according to his brother. Rob Ford, the scandal-plagued ex-mayor of Toronto who died in March 2016, told Bloomberg last summer that his older bro might launch a bid if Harper stepped down. Doug Ford, who appeared with Harper at a rally in the waning days of the campaign, told Bloomberg at the time that "I never say never in politics."
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