New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord will not be running for the leadership of the new Conservative Party of Canada, CTV News has learned.

CTV.ca News Staff

New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord will not be running for the leadership of the new Conservative Party of Canada, CTV News has learned.

A spokesperson for the premier said Lord, 38, considered the opportunity over the holidays but has decided that the best decision for him at this time is to remain the premier of New Brunswick.

An official statement will be released later today.

Lord had expressed an interest in running for the leadership of the new party and received support from longtime Conservative party supporters, including Alberta Premier Ralph Klein.

Klein had earlier put his support behind former Ontario premier Mike Harris, who also declined to run for the leadership.

The only two contenders at this point are Stephen Harper, the leader of the now defunct Canadian Alliance, and Calgary businessman Jim Prentice. Former Tory leader Peter MacKay is also reportedly preparing to announce his bid for the leadership.

The vote for the first leader will be held at a convention on March 21.

Last October, Lord ruled out running for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party, saying the most important title he needed was his children calling him "papa."

The spotlight remained fixed on Lord, who came out of nowhere in 1997 to win the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.

His popularity remains despite a lacklustre showing in the June 2003 election, which whittled his majority down to just one seat.

Lord's decision not to run for the merged party may help MacKay, since they both would likely have been competing for the same campaign funding and organizational support.

However, MacKay still faces criticism over his decision to renege on a promise to David Orchard not to merge the PC Party with the Alliance. The promise ensured MacKay's successful bid for Tory leader.

The early frontrunner is Harper, who said he will officially declare his candidacy Jan. 12. He has said he intends to focus his campaign on Quebec.

More than 95 per cent of the Alliance party voted in favour of the merger, as did 90 per cent of Tory members.