Sarnia-Lambton's MP has officially entered the Conservative leadership race.
Marilyn Gladu has passed the first qualifying threshold, which required a $25,000 fee, 1,000 endorsements from party members and a brief interview with the party's nominations committee.
"This was the first milestone to pass," said Gladu. "The next one is February 27th, where I have to have $125,000 and an additional 1,000 signatures and then by March 25 I have to have an additional $150,000 and another 1,000 signatures. So, certainly I'm busy collecting signatures and looking for donations."
Gladu is the fourth candidate to be vetted by the party, and the second woman.
"I think the country is ready for a woman to lead. Certainly, we've had strong women leaders in the Conservative party and I'm very proud to represent well, both for Sarnia-Lambton and for women."
Gladu, who has already delivered her campaign message in Halifax and Calgary, is embracing the challenge of the cross country campaign.
"It's wonderful and terrifying. You're meeting a lot of new people, but daily people are volunteering to join the team, donating money, giving signatures, willing to collect signatures. So I've been really pleased that folks are glad I'm in the race, they think I'm a credible candidate and many are going to vote for me to be the next leader of the party and the future Prime Minister of Canada."
Gladu joins Leslyn Lewis, Peter MacKay and Erin O'Toole in the race to replace Andrew Scheer.
The new leader will be chosen on June 27, 2020.