Trudeau's Tory rival could quickly become political roadkill
BNN Bloomberg
The leader of Canada’s main opposition Conservatives is fighting for his political life, with members of his own caucus seeking to oust him amid a long-simmering feud over the party’s direction.
The leader of Canada’s main opposition Conservatives is fighting for his political life, with members of his own caucus seeking to oust him amid a long-simmering feud over the party’s direction.
Erin O’Toole, who took the reins as leader in August 2020, has been attempting to quell a rebellion since the party finished second to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in last fall’s election. Now, about a third of the 119 elected Conservative lawmakers have called for a confidence vote at their caucus meeting Wednesday.
O’Toole has faced internal criticism over his policy stands, including reversing the party’s opposition to carbon pricing. But the revolt has been given new energy by the trucker convoy that’s been occupying the downtown core of Canada’s capital to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The military veteran and former corporate lawyer has been misreading where right-wing politics have been heading in Canada, particularly during the pandemic as grassroots members have grown frustrated with lockdowns and other public-health restrictions, according to Conservative strategist Kate Harrison.
“The impression that leaves with Conservative Party supporters is that he is not leading the movement, he’s being led by the movement,” Harrison, vice-chair at Ottawa-based consultancy Summa Strategies, said by phone. “Leadership comes down to reading the room and knowing the right emotion and the tone to strike.”
Wednesday’s vote in Ottawa also raises questions about the party’s ability to stay united. It was formed in 2003 by merging the centrist Progressive Conservatives with the more populist Canadian Alliance. Prior to that, the Liberals capitalized on a divided opposition to win three straight majority governments.