Canada’s Conservative party picks Erin O’Toole to take on Justin Trudeau

Canadian Conservatives on Monday announced their new leader, former air force navigator Erin O’Toole.

Newly elected Erin O’Toole arrives with wife Rebecca and children Mollie and Jack to deliver a speech in Ottawa on Monday. Picture: AFP

Canadian Conservatives on Monday announced their new leader, former air force navigator Erin O’Toole, who will quickly have to get the party battle-ready to challenge Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in possible snap elections.

Following a largely virtual campaign because of the coronavirus epidemic, Mr O’Toole, 47, was proclaimed the winner early on Monday after a record 175,000 voted in the party race.

The results were delayed for several hours after an envelope-opening machine damaged several thousand mailed-in ballots.

Former veterans affairs minister O’Toole faced three other candidates in the race to replace outgoing Andrew Scheer.

Peter MacKay, 54, who served as foreign, defence and then justice minister under former prime minister Stephen Harper, had been the favourite. Two little-know lawyers, including the first black woman to run for the Conservative leadership, Leslyn Lewis, were also in the running.

Mr O’Toole won in the third round after a close race with Mr MacKay, picking up support of part of the religious right, which had supported Ms Lewis, according to several analysts.

“We must continue to point out Liberal failings and corruption, but we must also show Can­adians our vision for a stronger, more prosperous and more united Canada,” Mr O’Toole said in his acceptance speech in Ottawa.

“Canada can and must do ­better and Conservatives will work hard to earn the trust and confidence of Canadians in the next election.”

A MP for Ontario and less well-known than Mr MacKay, Mr O’Toole had twice previously run for the party leadership.

Both touted a need for the party to broaden its appeal to progressive voters, with a focus on jobs and the economy, but also to pitch a clear climate plan, which has been lacking from the Tories during the 2019 elections.

Like his three rivals, Mr O’Toole also pledged to abolish the carbon tax put in place by Mr Trudeau, while promising an ­environmental plan.

Mr Scheer had to bear the consequences of his failure to beat Mr Trudeau last year despite costing the Liberals majority government and winning 121 seats.

Mr O’Toole will soon face a difficult decision over whether to force early elections. The next opportunity will be at the end of September when Mr Trudeau seeks parliament’s support for ­social and environmental spending to steer Canada out of its economic slump.

Mr Trudeau is embroiled in an ethics scandal over the award of a government contract to a charity that paid members of his family. The Tories, however, would need the backing of at least two other parties to topple the Liberals, who have 155 seats in the 338 member House of Commons.

AFP