(Ottawa) Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole expels Senator Denise Batters from the national caucus, who has launched a petition demanding a review of her leadership.
“Senator Denise Batters has been kicked out of the National Conservative Caucus. As leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, I will not tolerate one person clearly discrediting and despising the efforts of the entire Conservative caucus, which holds the corrupt and catastrophic government of Justin Trudeau to account, ”said Mr. O’Toole in a media statement.
“Just eight weeks ago, Canadians elected the Conservatives to hold Justin Trudeau to account for his mismanagement in the economy, and to fight the cost of living crisis, the soaring cost of living. inflation and supply chain issues that hurt businesses. This is what we do as a team, ”he added in his statement.
Appointed to the Senate by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Denis Batters was close to former leader Andrew Scheer and supported Peter MacKay in the last Conservative leadership race in 2020.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, ARCHIVES THE CANADIAN PRESS
Denise Batters (right)
Monday, Mme Batters posted a video posted to Twitter, in which she called on members of the Conservative Party to sign a petition aimed at calling for a review of Erin O’Toole’s leadership within six months, in June 2022. at the latest, instead of waiting until the next congress in 2023, as planned. And to rally members to her cause, she launched a formal attack on the Conservative leader.
“Under the leadership of Erin O’Toole, the gap within our party is widening”, plague Mme Batters in the roughly two-minute video, denouncing a leader who presented himself as a “real blue” during the leadership race, but who she said then betrayed conservative principles by making a “practically indistinguishable” campaign that of the Liberals of Justin Trudeau.
“As leader, Mr. O’Toole has diluted, and even completely overthrown, our policies, without input from the party or caucus members. On the subject of the carbon tax, firearms, freedom of conscience, he did an about-face during the same week, during the same day, sometimes even in the same sentence, ”she also laughs.
According to what the English-speaking network Global News reported on the faith of anonymous conservative sources, the senatorial exit would represent the first step of an orchestrated campaign to push the leader towards the exit. Press was unable to confirm reports that a gout ordeal awaits Erin O’Toole, whose caucus meets on Wednesday for its weekly session.
We can already imagine that the exchanges behind closed doors could be tough.
Because Senator Batters’ slingshot was torched by other Conservative MPs.
Alberta MP Michelle Rempel Garner has expressed her frustration on social media. She promptly invited the senator to withdraw her petition, saying that the division that is taking hold in the Conservative ranks can only make the Liberals of Justin Trudeau smile.
“I’m so frustrated right now. Denise, the Liberals are cracking the champagne and they are drinking to your health. I hope you’re happy. I am not, ”said Mme Rempel Garner on his Twitter account.
MP Luc Berthold launched the same appeal. “Senator Batters, whom I respect a lot, should withdraw her petition or withdraw from the caucus, if she is not ready to work as a team against our only opponent: Justin Trudeau,” said the Quebecer on his Twitter account.
In addition to having been decried by several elected officials, the approach was accused of inadmissible by the party’s staff.
“The question you are proposing to ask in a referendum does not conform to the Constitution of the Conservative Party of Canada. Your petition is not admissible because it does not respect Articles 7, 10 and 12 of the Constitution, ”wrote President Robert Batherson in a letter to Denise Batters.