Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) Leader Erin O’Toole said Tuesday evening that Senator Denise Batters “has been kicked out of the National Conservative Caucus.” “
The Conservative senator had launched a petition to submit Erin O’Toole to a vote of confidence from activists within six months, because she said the leader could not lead the Conservative Party to victory in the next election.
In a statement released Tuesday evening, Erin O’Toole wrote that he 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. . “
The CPC leader added, “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. “
In a video accompanying the online petition, Senator Batters launched a frontal attack on her ex-leader:
“This campaign was not lost because of Mr. O’Toole’s mistakes or inexperience,” but rather “because of what Canadian voters perceive to be its main flaw, which is that it is not trustworthy. You can’t get over this. “
Mr Batters, who supported Andrew Scheer in the party’s leadership race in 2017 and Peter MacKay in the next, believes a rift is growing within the party.
The senator said it was impossible, during the last election campaign, to distinguish Erin O’Toole from Justin Trudeau, after he had been elected leader of the Conservatives a year earlier by proclaiming himself “a true blue” .
In a series of tweets on Twitter, Tory MP Michelle Rempel Garner quickly urged Batters to withdraw the petition and speak out inside caucus. According to the member, the Liberals opened the champagne and toast in honor of the senator.
A referendum of members of the Conservative Party can be initiated by a petition submitted to the National Council. It must collect the signatures of at least 5% of conservative activists in five provinces.
The council is responsible for holding a referendum within 120 days of receiving a valid petition.