A former Conservative Party of Canada Leader has agreed to co-chair the upcoming Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba election campaign. 

Candice Bergen, who last month, announced her resignation as the Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar, served in that role for 15 years.

"We are delighted that Candice will play an integral role in the campaign," says PC Leader Heather Stefanson. "With her passion and experience in bringing people together and uniting Conservatives from all walks of life, Candice is a huge 'get' for our team."

The 2023 Manitoba general election is scheduled to take place later this year. 

"I have enthusiastically agreed to co-chair the PC election campaign because I have seen first-hand in Ottawa the damage and division that NDP-Liberal politicians are doing to our country," says Bergen. "I believe my friend, Heather Stefanson, and the PC Team is the best choice to lead Manitoba and continue fighting for you against punitive policies like the NDP-Liberal carbon tax, their inflationary spending and their soft-on-crime agenda." 

Stefanson and Bergen have been friends for many years and have spoken often over the past several months. 

"Elections are won by working together, with a common purpose, for the betterment of all," says Bergen. "As campaign co-chair, my focus will be the same as it was while I was Leader of the CPC, and that is to keep our PC Team strong and united and focused on fighting for Manitobans, not with each other. This is why we must stick together and work towards the same goal - a safer, more affordable future." 

Bergen is the former Leader of the Official Opposition and Conservative Party of Canada. She was Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar for 15 years serving in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet as Minister of State for Social Development, as well as Opposition House Leader, Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Natural Resources. Prior to being elected in 2008, she served as Stephen Harper's Manitoba campaign manager in 2004.