Candice Bergen Chosen As Interim Leader Of Conservatives

The Conservative Party of Canada has a new interim leader.

Manitoba MP Candice Bergen takes over from Erin O’Toole, who was voted out in a ballot among party members yesterday.

Bergen has been an MP since 2008 and served as the Opposition House Leader for four years.

Seventy-three MPs voted against O’Toole as leader while 45 were in favour of him staying in the role.

Several MPs broke ranks in the past days, calling publicly for a review of O’Toole’s time at the helm and his performance in the last election.

Bergen will stay on until the Conservatives face their third party leadership race since 2015.

In a goodbye video posted to Twitter, O’Toole said it has been an honour of a lifetime to lead the Conservatives over the past year.

The outgoing leader offered some parting thoughts after he officially submitted his resignation.

“This country needs a Conservative party that is both an intellectual force and a governing force. Ideology without power is vanity. Seeking power without ideology is hubris,” said O’Toole.

He went on to say that the country is facing a “dire moment” of division, pointing to the ongoing protests in Ottawa.

“So my message to my party is the same I will give to the prime minister and members of Parliament on all sides of the House of Commons — audi alteram partem — hear the other side,” said O’Toole.

“Listen to all voices, not just the echoes from your own tribe. Realize that our country is divided and people are worried. Work together because how we as leaders act now will define the next generation.”

With files from Brad Perry.