Erin O’Toole claims Conservative MPs are united. But are grassroots supporters?
Global News
A spokesperson for Erin O'Toole said “Canada's Conservatives are a united team," but several grassroots organizations are speaking out.
Erin O’Toole insists the Conservative caucus is united behind his leadership.
But can he be as confident about the party’s grassroots?
The reaction from a handful of third-party organizations, which represent swaths of the Conservative faithful, suggests the answer is likely a no.
“If they keep throwing their base under the bus, there’s not going to be anyone on the bus,” said Sheldon Clare, president and CEO of the National Firearms Association, adding that he remains a Conservative member for “right now.”
Gun owners and their advocates were among those O’Toole courted both times he ran for party leadership, first in 2017 and again last year, when he was successful.
Clare says the community reacted with shock, anger and disgust during the September federal election campaign when O’Toole backtracked on his promise to repeal the Liberals’ ban on some 1,500 types of “assault-style” firearms. Facing attacks from the Liberals, O’Toole announced he’d subject the matter to a review – even inserting a footnote into the online version of his platform.
Clare says unhappiness among supporters and gun owners has intensified since the election, given that no further explanation or clarification has been provided about “a solid policy statement that became flipped, almost on a whim.”
“I’ve heard endless concern about the direction of the Conservative Party,” echoed Rod Giltaca, CEO and executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights.