Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative Leadership convention will be held in Halifax Oct. 26-27, 2018, the party announced in a news release Sunday morning.

The leader’s job is up for grabs after former leader Jamie Baillie announced his intention last November to step down once a new leader was picked.

However, his departure was sped up when he was forced out in January over allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

So far, Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market executive director Julie Chaisson, MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, MLA Tim Houston, MLA John Lohr and Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke have entered the leadership race.

“This may be the most highly contested leadership race in the history of the PC Party. We feel we have a strong, fair process in place to help the party choose its next leader,” Tara Erskine, co-chair of the leadership committee, said in the news release.

Party members will be able to vote using a mail-in ballot with preferential voting or at the convention with multiple ballots. Online voting won’t be used.

The cut-off date for candidates to submit their nomination papers is Aug. 13. and candidates have until Aug. 15 to withdraw.