Conservative Party rejects Ches Crosbie's candidacy for Avalon

St. John's lawyer Ches Crosbie will notbe running for the Conservatives in the next federal election.

• Ches Crosbie seeking federal Conservative nomination in Avalon

Crosbie, aprominent attorney and son of former ProgressiveConservativecabinet minister JohnCrosbie, was told Tuesday by party officials that he wasn't the type of candidate the party islooking for to run in the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Avalon.

"While I am disappointed and disagree with the party's decision, I respect that it is their right to make it," he wrote in a statement.

"I will not be appealing the matter to the National Council."

Crosbie says he still stands by what the Conservatives standfor, and he isn't ruling out an attempt to run again in the future.

"This hasn't lessened my passion for politics, my commitment to the people of Avalon, nor my belief in the principlesof the Conservative Party," he wrote.

"There will be other opportunities for me to service and when that time comes, I will not hesitate to put my name forward."

John Crosbiereacts

Ches Crosbie's father, John Crosbie, is not happy about the Conservative Party's decision to deny his son the candidacy for the riding of Avalon.

The former cabinet minister, who was also the province'slieutenant-governor from 2008 to 2013, spoke out against the decision during an interview with CBC's As It Happens on Wednesday.

'Astonished ... shocked ... certainly very displeased," he said during the interview.

"The audacity of some small, unknown committee of people up in Ottawa that could have this power...is not only insulting, it's a disgrace... I can't explain my scorn and disdain. I amreally browned off."

Crosbiesays he thinks the decision is not only bad for his son, but also bad for the party.

"They want to help themselves be influential in all Newfoundland affairs so they can dictate to us down here in Newfoundland what the federal attitude is," he said.

"If it wasn't for my ageI'm 84I'd bloody-well put my hat in the ring in the next couple of weeks. I'd run myself... I'm tempted to do that."

He also says he thinks the Conservatives are going to have trouble winning the next election this fall, and that he doesn't see any point in his son appealing the decision.

"You've already been savaged in the back once... You appeal it, you'll get stabbed in the back again. What's the point?" he said.

"To be insulted like this, it's just intolerable."