As the federal Conservative party undergoes a change in leadership, our local MP is thanking the recently ousted party leader.
“My sincere thank you to Erin O’Toole,” says Michael Barrett, the MP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “For his dedication and service to Canada and to the Conservative Party.”
“Stepping up to political leadership is a huge commitment,” he continues, “and I’m grateful for his sacrifice along with that of his family.”
Barrett, who has represented our riding since winning a 2018 by-election, was named Deputy House Leader and Co-chair of Question Period Planning for the Conservative shadow cabinet in November. Under the previous administration, he was the Shadow Minister for Ethics, and helped instigate the investigation into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s involvement with the WE Charity in 2020.
Erin O’Toole, who has led the Conservative party since August 2020, lost a leadership vote Wednesday afternoon. Candice Bergen, a Manitoba MP and O’Toole’s Deputy Party Leader, has been named interim party leader, and a convention will be held some time in the near future to decide the next permanent party leader.