Candice Bergen the MP for Portage-Lisgar (Manitoba) has been selected as the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Bergen will lead the CPC on an interim basis after a tough day for the party which saw a majority of caucus MP's vote for the removal of the former leader Erin O'Toole.
MP's gathered in Ottawa to hold a secret vote on O'Toole's leadership which saw 73 members of the 119 caucus vote to turf the Durham (Ontario) MP.
Bergen will be tasked with rewriting the ship after a tough election loss in 2021 and rough few months of fundraising. 4th Quarter fundraising showed that the Conservative Party failed to top the governing Liberals, a first in almost two years.
The new interim leader defeated 5 other candidates for the position. Including Kerry-Lynne Findlay, MP for South Surrey—White Rock , Marilyn Gladu, MP for Sarnia—Lambton, Tom Kmiec, MP for Calgary Shepard, Rob Moore, MP for Fundy Royal, and John Williamson, MP for New Brunswick Southwest.
Party MP tweeted congratulations after the announce that Bergen won the interim position.
Ontario MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman MP tweeted, 'Congratulations, Candice Bergen, on being elected the interim Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada!'
Edmonton based MP Tim S. Uppal tweeted, 'I look forward to working with her in her role as interim leader of Canada’s Official Opposition.'
Fellow Manitoba MP Ted Falk released a statement, 'I am confident in this next chapter of our party, I know that this is the right step as we prepare to form government after the next election.'
Support came in from provinical leaders as well, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted, "Candice is a smart, tough & hard-working. She’ll be a clear voice for common sense Canadians & a strong opposition leader."
Bergen will lead the party for the next few months as the party prepared for a leadership race. She will face off against Justin Trudeau in Question Period tomorrow.