With a new leader in place, Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty says the Conservatives are ready to take on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the governing Liberals.
Doherty supported Peter MacKay during the race but said he is ready to work with Erin O'Toole, who emerged the winner early Monday morning when the final votes were tabulated.
"Erin's a good friend of mine and a colleague, I've known him for the last five years and I'm excited to work with him as our leader," Doherty said Tuesday.
Asked if there were any big differences between O'Toole and MacKay, Doherty said they were extremely similar and repeated his comment that he looks forward to working with O'Toole.
Doherty said O'Toole raised the issue of western alienation during his first meeting with Trudeau.
"No more from ever before has our country been more divided than what we've seen after the 2019 election," he said. "Prime Minister Trudeau, with his policies and his actions has further divided our country and I think as we move forward Canadians will see the right choice will be a strong Conservative voice."
Asked what the party will be looking for in the Throne Speech when it's delivered on Sept. 23, Doherty said that will be discussed by caucus. But he accused Trudeau of trying to force an election.
"I think Prime Minister Trudeau would love to have Canadians go to the polls in the midst of a global crisis in the effort to put a closure on the WE scandal which has plagued him over the last couple months," Doherty said.
