'He can't win': Conservative Senator pushing for 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 petition calling for an expedited leadership review process stating that O'Toole 'can't win the next election.'

Saskatchewan Sen. Denise Batters launched an official 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.

“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.

“On behalf of Conservative activists and members from coast to coast, we started this petition because we don't want to see this party ripped apart again,” Batters said in a video announcing the launch of the petition. “Under Erin O’Toole’s leadership, the rift in our party is growing,” she said.

Batters, who has been critical in the past of the current leader, said O’Toole “lost this election by every measure,” and was critical of his evolving policy positions.