OTTAWA-
Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole will deliver a salute at the party leadership event where his successor will be named, but he will not be on stage.
Party President Rob Batherson said O’Toole had been invited to speak in person at the Sept. 10 event in Ottawa, but will broadcast his greetings via video instead.
Batherson says O’Toole had a prior engagement that will prevent him from attending.
O’Toole’s ousting as party leader last winter kicked off the party’s third leadership contest since the party lost the 2015 election.
The Ontario MP has kept a low profile since a majority of his caucus voted to remove him as leader last February after months of tension.
Many caucus members were unhappy with O’Toole’s handling of COVID-19 vaccination mandates and efforts to moderate some conservative policies such as climate change.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on September 2, 2022.
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