Conservatives clash over renewed calls for an expedited party vote on O'Toole's leadership

Conservative members should be able to vote within the next six months on whether or not Erin O'Toole should remain leader of the party, says one Senator who has launched a quickly contentious petition calling for an expedited leadership review process stating that O'Toole 'can't win the next election.'

Saskatchewan Sen. Denise Batters launched the petition on Monday, calling for the Party to give Conservative supporters a chance to have their say about the future of O’Toole’s leadership and the direction of the Conservative Party before the end of June. Within hours, Conservative Party President Rob Batherson appeared to preemptively shut down her proposal, sending her a letter that states her effort "does not adhere" to the party’s constitution.

Still, Batters remains determined that her pursuit is fair game.

“I disagree with Mr. Batherson on that. We're not asking for the leadership selection process to commence, we're simply asking for a referendum of the members… There’s no particular part that limits what members are allowed to ask for a referendum of, that's what I'm requesting as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada,” she said in an interview on CTV News Channel’s Power Play.

“Do you wish to have a confidence vote on Erin O’Toole’s continued leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, by mail or virtually, at the earliest opportunity and, in any event, no later than June 30, 2022?” the petition reads.