Conservative riding association renews call for vote on O’Toole’s leadership
Global News
Alberta EDA becomes the first to formally request the party’s national council speed up a vote on Erin O’Toole’s leadership before the Conservatives' 2023 policy convention.
A Conservative Party riding association in southern Alberta has become the first in the country to formally petition the party’s national council for a leadership review.
The decision by the Foothills electoral district association (EDA) represents another Western-based challenge to Erin O’Toole’s leadership, after Saskatchewan Sen. Denise Batters’ failed petition to accelerate a leadership review.
The EDA passed a motion on Jan. 22 calling for a leadership review vote no later than June 15 to “ensure a united and strong Conservative Party of Canada in preparation for an imminent election.” A copy of the motion was obtained by Global News.
It’s not clear if the actions of the Foothills EDA board will herald similar moves by other riding associations. Several Alberta-based Conservative MPs responded to queries Tuesday morning to say they are not aware of similar motions suggesting the move by the Foothills board may be a relatively isolate one at this point. But two sources active in Conservative campaigning and organizing say at least two other EDAs in Western Canada may be contemplating a similar move.
Riding associations, particularly those in Western Canada, play a significant role in the Conservative party. They are, for example, the bedrock upon which the party’s fundraising prowess is based and generally hold significant cash reserves themselves. That said, the riding association in Foothills was one of the laggards in 2020, the most recent year for which financial information for EDAs is available. Foothills raised $18,585 from 81 donors that year, 28th of 34 in the province and 110th of 338 in the country.
The Foothills board passed the motion just as Conservative MPs prepare for a pre-Parliament strategy session this week. The meetings will include the results of an election post-mortem, conducted by former Calgary MP James Cumming, which looked at where O’Toole’s 2021 campaign fell short.
The MP for Foothills, John Barlow, endorsed Peter MacKay in the party’s 2020 leadership race, which O’Toole won on the final ballot. Barlow was not immediately available for comment. Karen Spencer, the riding association president, could also not be immediately reached.
Rob Batherson, the head of the party’s national council, told Global News that while there’s no obligation for the party’s governing body to act on the resolution, he was “sure we will respond” to the call from Foothills.
Members of Parliament are back in the House of Commons today, where the government is expected to face tough questions about new auditor general reports and the war in Iran.
Two Air Canada pilots are dead after their flight originating from Montreal collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport Sunday night.
With more rain in the forecast, crews continue to deal with a mudslide earlier this week that covered a road in Coquitlam in debris, posing risk to Metro Vancouver's water supply.
A former BC Ferries CEO says the Queen of the North sinking remains ‘disturbing’ 20 years later. The ferry struck an island in Wright Sound on March 22, 2006. Two people died.
The 2026 Kraft Hockeyville top two contestants have been named. The winner receives $250,000 for ice rink upgrades, and the runner-up will receive a prize worth about $100,000.
The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer scrutinizes federal spending decisions and helps to cost out campaign proposals during elections.
Man’s best friend is proving to be a true lifeline. All across Saskatchewan, service dogs are providing essential, life-changing support every day.
Two days after the first day of spring, parts of Atlantic Canada and Quebec will see another blast of winter with Environment Canada forecasting several centimetres of snow.
UNESCO recognized several Maritime historical groups including the executive director of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre for their work on the Black Loyalist archive.
Aid shipments are beginning to arrive in Cuba and a Russian oil delivery is expected this month, but fuel shortages remain critical.
Tensions flared as CAQ leadership rivals clashed over Quebec’s “third link” project in the first debate to replace Premier François Legault.
Toronto police have charged a 60-year-old man with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Xian Wei Shao, whose remains were discovered in a north end home last week.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne says the government has found ways to cut spending by $60 billion but cautions that published spending cuts require important context.