愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Bergen says she will work to 'strengthen' conservative movement as interim leader

Share

Candice Bergen says she is focused squarely on strengthening the conservative movement as the newly elected interim Conservative Party leader.

Bergen was named interim leader late Wednesday night following the ousting of Erin O鈥橳oole earlier in the day at the party鈥檚 caucus meeting.

鈥淚鈥檓 ready, and so is our caucus. Over the next few months, my colleagues and I will be listening and acting. My goal as Interim Leader is to strengthen our movement and leave the next leader with a party that鈥檚 ready to win,鈥 she said in her first official statement as interim leader.

鈥淎s we move forward, it鈥檚 important that Conservatives come together from coast-to-coast-to-coast to focus on Justin Trudeau鈥檚 cost of living crisis, his divisive approach that is threatening our national unity, and his repeated ethical scandals.鈥

The Manitoba MP sat as deputy leader under O鈥橳oole, as Minister of State for Social Development under prime minister Stephen Harper and as Opposition House leader under previous interim leader Rona Ambrose.

Bergen beat out eight other candidates seeking the title.

She thanked O鈥橳oole and his wife Rebecca, and his children Mollie and Jack for their service to the party and the country.

鈥淭he professionalism and dedication that Erin brought to the job is something that I will continue as Leader of the Conservative Party. I would also like to thank my colleagues for putting their trust in me to lead the Conservative Party. I will work hard every day to earn that trust,鈥 she said.

Bergen鈥檚 colleagues reflected on her win and the fate of the party heading into the House of Commons on Thursday.

鈥淚鈥檓 very pleased with the election of Candice Bergen as interim leader. She brings a great deal of experience, she鈥檚 widely respected within caucus, she鈥檚 served on leadership teams of all of the three leaders I鈥檝e served under, so I think we鈥檙e going regroup and unite and work hard to hold Justin Trudeau to account,鈥 said Alberta MP Michael Cooper.

Ontario MP John Brassard echoed Cooper's sentiment about the work ahead.

鈥淥bviously there鈥檚 a lot of fear and anxiety in this country, a lot of divisiveness, so we鈥檙e going to work hard to make sure that we unite Canadians, and I鈥檓 sure Candice will do that within the party,鈥 he said.

Bergen received a standing ovation from her team at the start of question period on Thursday, before directing a series of pointed questions at the government.

She took the opportunity to ask how the Liberals plan to resolve the ongoing trucker protests outside Parliament Hill.

鈥淲here is the olive branch, because Canadians are looking for an olive branch鈥he government doesn't have to agree. They don't have to even like the protesters and the trucks that are parked outside but they need to provide a solution. So could they please tell Canadians what the solution is to get past this impasse?鈥 she asked.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland instead cited the need to speak out against racist and hate-fuelled symbols and the movements that tolerate them.

Speculation is mounting already about who will put their name in the hat to become the permanent leader of the official opposition.

Ontario MP Pierre Poilievre, the party鈥檚 finance critic, is being dubbed a front runner, as is Alberta MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who currently sits as the natural resources critic.

Outside the elected, there are whispers that Peter MacKay, a former cabinet minister and candidate in the last leadership race, will join back in.

As for Ambrose, a statement issued Wednesday reads 鈥淢y heart says yes but my head says no. I鈥檓 not going to go back at this juncture in my life. Our kids are at the age where they need us and I am enjoying being in business.鈥

Party president Robert Batherson told 愛污传媒 the timeline of an upcoming leadership race is still unknown at this point.

鈥淪tep one, National Council has to appoint a leadership election organizing committee 鈥 it鈥檚 that committee that drafts the rules and procedures for a vote. My hope is that we can start the process of getting that committee in place, hopefully within the next 24 to 48 hours,鈥 he said on Thursday.

This will be the third leadership race for the party since 2017.

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

Canada's discount airline is suspending operations to and from Saskatoon.

A new report suggests that Canadians' exposure to a radioactive gas is increasing, putting millions of people at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Local Spotlight

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

Stay Connected