2011

The proposal was soundly defeated at the 2011 convention in Ottawa, as it was at three previous conventions. Minister of state Maxime Bernier and other Quebec MPs sided with MacKay, as did some party elders such as former Ontario premier Bill Davis and former finance minister Don Mazankowski.

But this time, with the convention in Calgary, a vote could theoretically be closer. Neither of the current proposals names the sponsoring riding associations. In the past, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Ontario MP Scott Reid have backed the change, with Reid emailing out materials on the issue in 2011. The sponsor ridings weren't named in 2011 either.

"I understand it's not being put forward openly and honestly because we're not sure who's doing it," said MacKay.said they would seek the leadership.

D'Arcy Barker, a former member of the Canadian Alliance's national council, noted that the debate is not evenly split between former Progressive Conservatives and former Alliance members. He said he came around to the concept of the ridings all having an equal voice, arguing that it encouraged more long-term workers, donors and members.

"After '98, I thought the PC method was flawed," Barker said on Twitter. "After experiencing '03, I saw it built long-lasting party infrastructure."