Saskatchewan senator wants review of O’Toole’s leadership

A Conservative senator from Saskatchewan has launched a petition asking for a review of Erin O’Toole’s leadership of the party.

Sen. Denise Batters posted a video to her Twitter feed on Monday saying she was seeking a review of O’Toole’s leadership within six months.

Batters said she previously worked to merge the Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance parties into the Conservative Party, which she believes has suffered under O’Toole’s guidance.

“On behalf of Conservative activists and members from coast to coast, we started this petition because we don’t want to see this party ripped apart again,” Batters said in the video. “When we’re divided, the Liberals win.

“Under Erin O’Toole’s leadership, the rift in our party is growing. He told us, ‘This is not your grandfather’s Conservative Party,’ and warned campaigning MPs they must agree 100 per cent with his new direction, which constantly changes, or get out of caucus.”

#CPC Members:
Today I launched a petition to review Erin O’Toole’s CPC leadership within 6 months.

He reversed core policies without input from members & caucus, then lost #Elxn44 by every measure.

Our members deserve to have a say!
Sign at: https://t.co/u20cvWmiJ6
VIDEO: pic.twitter.com/GLPyfC0X3w

— Sen. Denise Batters (@denisebatters) November 15, 2021

Batters said O’Toole has “watered down” and occasionally reversed the party’s policy positions without input from caucus members, and then ran a campaign in the 2021 federal election that she said was “indistinguishable” from that of the Liberals.

“This campaign was not lost because of Mr. O’Toole’s mistakes or inexperience,” Batters said. “It was lost because of what Canadian voters perceive as his character flaw — that he is not trustworthy. You can’t come back from that.”

Michelle Rempel Garner, the Conservative MP for Calgary Nose Hill, responded to Batters’ video with a social media post of her own.

Rempel Garner said she had been working on an issue for her constituents, but instead was forced to answer questions about Batters’ video.

“I am so frustrated with this,” said Rempel Garner, noting all the issues the Conservatives would have raised Monday were overshadowed by Batters.

Rempel Garner asked Batters to withdraw her petition.

“This open warfare that’s happening right now? The Liberals are popping champagne to you,” Rempel Garner said. “I’m sure that the Liberals went out and bought a case of champagne and they’re going, ‘Cheers, Denise Batters. This is great.’ ”