Tochor defeats Trost for Saskatoon-University CPC nomination

Less than a year after placing fourth in the race for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, Brad Trost has lost the CPC nomination of his own riding.

The veteran MP was ousted Saturday after losing the riding association vote to former provincial legislature speaker Corey Tochor, who will represent the Tories in Saskatoon-University in the next federal election.

Tochor won on the second ballot after an hour-and-a-half of vote counting, according to his spokesperson.

He currently serves as MLA for Saskatoon-Eastview, a position he can continue to hold until the Trudeau government drops an election writ.

Tochor entered the nomination race in January, advocating for a “fresh start” in the riding.

Trost became a controversial figure in the CPC after the national leadership race when he was fined $50,000 by the party for allegedly leaking a membership list to the National Firearms Association.

The 14-year MP called the charge a “deliberate smear” and sued the party.

He has also drawn criticism from some quarters for his opposition to abortion and gay marriage.

Tochor, a Saskatoon businessman, burst on to the political scene in 2011 when he won a Sask. Party seat in the government by an 18-point margin in Saskatoon-Eastview.

He was re-elected in 2016 with 53.4 per cent of the vote.