(OTTAWA) The former interim leader of the Conservative Party, Candice Bergen, announced Wednesday that she is resigning as an MP.
The elected veteran from Manitoba posted a video on Twitter in which she explains that she made the decision to leave her post as MP for the riding of Portage-Lisgar after a meeting with her party’s caucus.
“I won’t be back in the House of Commons; I’m not a ‘long emotional start’ type,” she mentioned in her video.
Mme Bergen also took the time to thank his family and fellow politicians, “regardless of your political stripe.”
Last September, after serving as interim leader during the leadership race to find a successor to Erin O’Toole, Ms.me Bergen had let it be known that she had no intention of running for another term in the next federal election.
Potential future candidates, including Manitoba Finance Minister Cameron Friesen, have already announced their ambitions to win the Conservative nomination to replace Mme Bergen.
In his video, M.me Bergen nevertheless stressed that she is leaving parliament “full of hope and energy” about her party.
“I am hopeful for our strong and united Conservative Party and for our caucus under the courageous and principled leadership of my friend Pierre Poilievre. »
Mme Bergen was first elected in 2008 to represent her staunchly conservative Manitoba riding.
Many MPs credit M.me Bergen deserves credit for helping unify the party caucus, which found itself split under Mr O’Toole.
During her tenure as Acting Chief, Ms.me Bergen also defended his party for backing the “Freedom Convoy” protesters who blocked streets around Parliament Hill in Ottawa for weeks last winter.
She accused Justin Trudeau of dividing the country by pushing for the implementation of mandatory vaccination policies against COVID-19, saying in one of her first speeches as interim leader that the Prime Minister should extend a “olive branch” to the demonstrators.
As protests against health measures and the federal government dragged on, Ms.me Bergen urged those who refused to move to move their vehicles, during a speech in the House of Commons.