Updated yesterday at 11:49 p.m.
(Ottawa) The leader of the Conservative Party, Erin O’Toole, is struggling with a revolt by members of his deputies, nearly a third of whom are calling for a vote of confidence. “They will have to live with” the result, reacted late Monday evening the principal concerned, presenting the approach as a choice between “anger and optimism”.
In a letter sent to caucus chair Scott Reid, 35 of the 119 elected Conservatives demanded a vote, which could come as soon as the next caucus meeting on Wednesday, the daily reported Monday evening. The Globe and Mail and The Press was then able to confirm.
This sling comes in the wake of the publication of a report on the electoral defeat of last September, unveiled last week. On Twitter, MP Bob Benzen, who offered his support to Erin O’Toole in the 2017 and 2020 leadership races, referred to this report written by James Cumming.
“Given Mr. O’Toole’s record as leader, it is my view that a vote on his leadership is the only way to avoid a dangerous rift that would be irreparable within the Conservative Party,” reads -on in the statement released Monday by the Alberta MP.
Fellow Albertan Garnett Genuis took to the same social network on Monday evening to confirm he was one of the signatories of the missive, but also to accuse the chief’s communications team of having spread falsehoods about the reasons for his approach.
“Mr. O’Toole should realize he is in an untenable position instead of resorting to lies to publicly attack members of his own team,” he tweeted, assuring that his dissent had no effect. nothing to do with the conversion therapy bill, which he opposed.
According to a law that had been brought by Conservative MP Michael Chong, if at least 20% of a party’s elected officials demand a leadership review, a vote must take place in caucus. In the event that the majority of the members disapproved of a leader, he would have to leave. However, according to information from the Globe and Mailthis threshold could be reached, with 63 of the 119 deputies ready to oust the leader.
“They will have to live with”
Shortly after 11 p.m. Monday night, Erin O’Toole reacted to the affront on social media.
“I’m here and I’m not backing down. Canada needs us, united and serious! Now is the time to be accountable. To settle this question in caucus. Right here. Now. Once and for all. Anger or optimism. This is the choice before us,” he wrote.
“I will accept the result of this vote. The signatories of this letter must also accept it. They wrote it. They will have to live with it,” added the Conservative leader, regretting that some members of his caucus “don’t know which path to take.”
A challenged leader
Over the past few weeks, Erin O’Toole’s positions have been questioned time and time again.
Prior to the holiday recess, MPs resented her decision to ram through the bill banning conversion therapy, and later criticized her for her timidity on the Bill 21 file. Saskatchewan Senator Denise Batters , also launched a petition to demand a vote of confidence.
And, more recently, prominent elected officials like Candice Bergen, Andrew Scheer and Pierre Poilievre supported the convoy of truckers in Ottawa. Chief O’Toole initially expressed reservations about endorsement, saying that was not his role as a politician and party leader, before doing an about-face.
The mutiny would come from the deputies of the western provinces. Quebec’s elected officials, in general, have remained behind Erin O’Toole, who made a shift to the center during the last election campaign.
Recall that Mr. O’Toole had gone so far as to offer a “contract to Quebecers”, attracting the favor of François Legault.
But his prevarications of the last few weeks have exposed his shortcomings as a leader, confided to The Press a conservative source who requested anonymity in order to speak more freely. “It’s starting to be a personality trait, and it’s concerning,” this person said.
“A month ago, I thought he deserved his chance, but now… it seems like his idea is still based on the last person he talked to, and that’s not a big sign. of leadership,” the conservative source noted.