Conservative Party of Canada | Candice Bergen wants to make protests in Ottawa Trudeau’s “problem”

(OTTAWA) Manitoba MP Candice Bergen began Thursday in a new role as interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and leader of the opposition in the House of Commons.

M^me Bergen says his goal will be to strengthen the conservative movement and leave the next leader with a party poised to win.

She was elected by her caucus colleagues on Wednesday evening after a majority of members of her party showed the door to Erin O’Toole, who had been at the head of the political party for 18 months.

M^me Bergen has the delicate task of unifying conservatives who have been divided for weeks and angry since last year’s election defeat.

She also takes on the role at a time when protesters opposed to sanitary measures have crowded downtown Ottawa, honking their horns at all hours of the night and forcing the closure of many businesses and services.

Some Tory MPs have accused Mr O’Toole of not taking a clear stance on the protest, while Mr^me Bergen offered his full support to the group and dismissed reports of acts of racism and harassment as being the work of a few.

The conservative colleagues of M^me Bergen greeted her with a standing ovation in the House of Commons on Thursday as she made her debut as interim leader during Question Period, where she took aim at the Trudeau government for refusing to tender a “olive branch” to the demonstrators.

On Monday afternoon, as the party discussed how to respond to the protest, M^me Bergen told fellow Tory MPs and senior officials in an email: “I don’t think we should be asking them to go home. »

She added: “I understand that the mood may soon change. So we have to make it (the prime minister’s) problem. What will he do (as) the first step to put an end to this? »

A screenshot of the email, which bears the subject “statement for comment,” was obtained by The Canadian Press on Thursday and first reported by the Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press did not check the rest of the chain of emails.

M^me Bergen and the opposition leader’s office did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the email Thursday.

In a report of the appeal of Mr.^me Bergen to Mr. Trudeau during which the prime minister congratulated the interim leader on her election, the Conservative Party claimed that the two politicians had “agreed that solutions must be found to resolve the protests that are taking place in Ottawa”.

M^me Bergen raised the issue of the importance of supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, the minutes also read.

M^me Bergen has made it clear that the various tax increases planned by the government will negatively impact the daily lives of Canadians who desperately need tax relief, the Conservative Party added.

On Twitter, Trudeau said he spoke with Ms.^me Bergen “to congratulate her on her appointment as Interim Leader of the Official Opposition.” “Even if we are going to have disagreements, we must both defend the interests of the country and ensure that Parliament supports Canadians,” he wrote.

leadership race

The Conservative Party must also prepare for a leadership race, the third to choose a leader in less than five years.

Party President Rob Batherson told members that the National Council will appoint an organizing committee for the leadership race and will meet soon to discuss the matter.

But now people are already speculating who will enter the race.

Conservative Party finance critic Pierre Poilievre would be seen as a strong contender and one of the favorites if he decides to run.

Another Ontario MP, Marilyn Gladu, who has nominated herself for the party’s interim leadership, told reporters Wednesday night that she is also considering running for the party’s leadership.

Rona Ambrose, a former minister in Stephen Harper’s government and who served as the party’s interim when the latter left, ruled out the possibility of getting into the fray, which many Conservative MPs wanted.