Conservative leadership hopeful Pierre Lemieux visits Chatham

Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Lemieux will hold a public event in Chatham on Sunday, April 23, 2017.

The federal Conservative leadership race is returned to Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

Candidate Pierre Lemieux was looking to gain support when he made a stop in Chatham Sunday night.

Lemieux’s public event was held at Smitty's Family Restaurant from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Lemieux is also scheduled to make an appearance in Windsor from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday at Lilly Kazzilly's on Riverside Drive East.

Topics expected to be discussed include reducing government spending, lowering taxes, creating jobs and protecting freedom of speech.

Lemieux is one of 14 candidates for the federal party leadership. He is the latest in the long line of candidates to visit the riding, including Maxime Bernier, Lisa Raitt, Chris Alexander, Erin O'Toole and Rick Anderson.

Lemieux says he distinguishes himself from the others by saying he would be open to Private Members Bills, and would even introduce legislation to address specific life issues and allow MP’s to vote according to their conscience.

Lemieux declared his candidacy for the Conservative Party leadership in August of 2016. His campaign has largely focused on social conservative issues and increased personal freedoms.

Lemieux served as the Conservative MP for the Ontario riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell from 2006 to 2015, when he was defeated by Liberal Francis Drouin.

The new conservative leader will be selected on May 28 in Toronto.