O’Toole’s attempts to rebrand the ‘big blue tent’ have had pushback from the party’s base
For a party so focused on taking controversial issues off the table, it is having a hell of a time quelling controversy within its ranks. For a first-time leader so keen to appear in command, the knives have come out awfully quickly.In late September, a month into Erin O’Toole’s tenure, MPs were called into a caucus meeting and shown fresh branding for the Conservative Party of Canada.
On a Thursday morning in April, several MPs confirm they woke up to a CBC article spelling out the details of a plan they’d never heard of. That day, they spent two hours in a caucus Zoom call venting their concerns to the leader. A Toronto-based organizer who was in Ottawa remembers witnessing the backlash. “People were, pardon my French, f–king livid,” the person says.
Several people with knowledge of Ottawa staffing say those who worked for Peter MacKay’s leadership campaign were explicitly shuffled out. One former Hill staffer says, “I was bluntly told that I was not needed.” A second describes being informed “in no uncertain terms” they would not be involved in the next election campaign. In March, thereported allegations that MacKay himself was barred from running in the next election.
Polling from the Angus Reid Institute in May found that about half of Conservative voters oppose the environmental plan, and one in five are less likely to support the party again. It also found small but meaningful percentages of people who voted for other parties in 2019 would now be more likely to vote Conservative—including 19 per cent of those who voted for the Bloc Québécois.
Preston Manning, who led the Reform movement to major success in its second election in 1993, sees “growing alienation” in the West and believes it’s imperative for every major political party to address the roots of that discontent and the growing interest in the secession option. “These regions have the capacity to really disrupt things if they get completely alienated from the federal system.”
No. No, he cannot. He also cannot make the rest of us trust him.
heatherwilkey
heatherwilkey As Henry Lyatsky says: O'Toole is not perfect, but he is FAR BETTER THAN ANY OTHER OPTION. Once he is PM, apply maximum pressure for him to stand up for the West
The Conservative Party is determined to waste everyone's time being outraged over social issues and identity. No one deeply cares about cultural issues other than the media and a few special interest groups. Conservatives need to cut the tax breaks for high income Canadians.
No. He's deeply dishonest, nakedly power hungry, and unpopular.
mariedanielles And now for your daily “who cares?” moment…
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