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O’Toole unsuccessful in leadership bid

Erin O'Toole

Durham MP Erin O’Toole was unsuccessful in a bid to become the Conservative Party’s interim leader.

By Graeme McNaughton/The Oshawa Express

The leader of the official opposition will not be from Oshawa.

That is because Erin O’Toole, who launched a bid to become the interim leader of the Conservative Party, lost in a vote at the first meeting of the party since the federal election.

Rona Ambrose, the MP for Alberta riding Sturgeon River-Parkland who had previously served as the Minister of the Environment, Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, won the runoff among eight Conservative MPs to lead the party.

Under the party’s constitution, Ambrose is unable to run for the leadership position at an upcoming leadership convention. A date for that has not yet been set.

Ambrose will replace Harper, who stepped down as leader following the party’s loss to the Liberals and Justin Trudeau in last month’s election.

Durham MP O’Toole was among eight MPs who put their name forward to lead the opposition until a full-time leader is chosen.

O’Toole did not respond to The Oshawa Express’ request for comment before press time.

However, on his Twitter feed, O’Toole voiced his congratulations to Ambrose, calling her “an experienced voice for the way ahead.”

 

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