EAST CENTRAL — The region’s three Conservative MPs thanked Erin O’Toole for his service after a majority of Conservative MPs voted to remove him from the position.
None of the MPs revealed how they voted Feb. 1, which saw 73 of the 119 Conservative MPs voted against his leadership.
“Yesterday, our Conservative caucus voted decisively for a change in leadership. I want to thank the Honourable Erin O’Toole and his family for their service to Canadians and our party,” said Carlton Trail–Eagle Creek MP Kelly Block in a statement
“The Conservative Party has always been a big tent party made up of thousands of members who support our founding principles and a shared commitment to stand up for all Canadians. We must now rebuild and demonstrate that we are a government in waiting ready to govern for the good of all.”
Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback expressed similar sentiments in his own statement
“I would personally like to thank Erin O’Toole for his leadership and his commitment to the Conservative Party and to Canada. As a friend to Erin, I wish he, his wife Rebecca and their children the very best in the future.”
Yorkton–Melville MP Cathay Wagantall told Yorkton This Week that O’Toole worked hard in his position.
"During the election there were a number of issues. Canadians felt that they were misled on some of these issues,” she said.
Wagantall referred to the word ‘flip-flop’ regarding O’Toole’s stance on different arguments.
“What I heard a lot was, 'We don't need another left-wing party',” said Wagantall of the voters’ perspectives. "People want to see a true alternative to the Liberals."
All three MPs congratulated Candace Bergen on being chosen interim leader of the Conservative caucus.
“She is a skilled parliamentarian and will do an excellent job of unifying our Conservative caucus and holding the Trudeau Liberal government to account for their harmful and divisive policies,” Block said.
Written with files from Tyson Off, Yorkton This Week
