In defiance of O’Toole, Saskatchewan MPs vote to back Batters in regional caucus: source
The Conservative Party’s Saskatchewan caucus voted Thursday night to stand behind Senator Denise Batters staying in the regional group, a source says, months after leader Erin O’Toole booted Batters from the national caucus in November. In a special meeting on Jan. 20, the 14-member Saskatchewan regional caucus voted in favour of Batters, according to a […]
O’Toole expected to receive 2021 election post-mortem report before Jan. 31, says former Conservative MP Cumming
Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole, who is under some pressure for an early leadership review, is expected to receive the much-awaited campaign review next month on why his party lost the last election to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals. “We hope to complete [the report] by the end of next month,” said former Edmonton Conservative […]
The many reflections of Pierre Poilievre
Described by political strategists both as “no bullshit” and as spouting bullshit, there’s no denying that Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre is a prominent and divisive figure as a finance critic, figurehead for criticism of the Liberals, and according to some, a person who would have a good shot at the party’s leadership. Poilievre was first […]
Ongoing standoff over O’Toole’s leadership review ‘unsustainable,’ causing deep fissures in the party, say Conservatives
Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole should call an early leadership review because if he waits until the scheduled August 2023 biennial convention it will further poison the relationship between the two sides, severely impeding the party’s ability to win the next election, say MPs, senior Conservatives, and veteran party insiders. “The current situation is not […]
Conservatives’ survey has would-be candidates worried O’Toole will change nomination rules to reward loyalists
A survey sent by the Conservative Party to its members has some would-be candidates and senior Tories worried that Leader Erin O’Toole is laying the groundwork to further centralize the nomination process, and pick and choose candidates who he likes. In a survey sent out to grassroots members of the party in mid-November obtained by […]
Has O’Toole hired an enforcer?
OAKVILLE, ONT.—It looks like Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole might be getting ready for a rumble. I say that because, according to a recent media report, O’Toole has added Jeff Ballingall, creator of the right-wing social media network Canada Proud, to his “election readiness” team. Notably, Canada Proud is a group that’s known for its […]
Into the unknowns of the 44th Parliament
OTTAWA—After a five-month absence, the House of Commons has begun sitting again and MPs are back to work in Ottawa. With a Speaker now selected and a Throne Speech delivered, speculation will heat up as to whether this is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s last term. That is arguably the most significant thing to watch for […]
Conservative Party’s national council to discuss Batters’ early leadership review petition at Dec. 10-12 meeting, if not before, says party president Batherson
The Conservative Party’s powerful 21-member national council, the top elected body of the party, will discuss Senator Denise Batters’ petition for Erin O’Toole’s early leadership review at its Dec. 10-12 quarterly in-person meeting in Ottawa, if not before, says the party’s president. On Monday, Conservative Sen. Batters (Saskatchewan), who was appointed to the Senate by […]
‘This is just Maxime Bernier’s vanity project’: don’t expect surprises from PPC leadership review, say politicos
The leadership review that the People’s Party of Canada is currently running is a vanity project for founder Maxime Bernier, say critics, while Mr. Bernier and other political observers say it’s a well-intentioned exercise that’s no different from those of other political parties. Philippe Fournier, a columnist for Maclean’s and creator of poll aggregator 338Canada, […]
Conservative Sen. Batters launches petition for O’Toole leadership review
Saskatchewan Conservative Senator Denise Batters has launched a petition for a review of Erin O’Toole’s leadership review within six months. “O’Toole won the leadership race claiming to be a “true blue” Conservative, but ran an election campaign nearly indistinguishable from Trudeau’s Liberals. Conservatives and Canadians can’t afford more of the same,” Sen. Batters wrote on […]
