Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer may have supported Erin O'Toole's main opponent during the Conservative Party's leadership race but had plenty of positive things to say about his new boss when reached on Monday.
"He's very well spoken in the House, he's a fighter," Zimmer said. "We've seen that during the campaign. It was gloves off, he gave it his all and I think we need that in a leader - somebody who's willing to drop the gloves and have a great debate and fight for our country and I see Erin has that fight in him and I can't wait to see it during an election."
Zimmer favoured Peter MacKay to replace Andrew Scheer as party leader. O'Toole emerged the winner in the third round of ballot counting after McKay came out ahead in the second round but fell short of securing enough votes to win the contest.
Zimmer said the support O'Toole garnered in Quebec came as surprise and appeared to have made the difference.
"Credit to Erin's team and mobilizing the membership drive there and they were successful," he said. "I think they were 1,000 points ahead of us in Quebec and that is substantial."
The outcome means the Conservatives are now ready to campaign should an election be called this fall. With a new finance minister in place, the governing Liberals have prorogued parliament until Sept. 23, when a Throne Speech will be presented followed by a new budget.
The chances of the Conservatives supporting what comes out are slim to none, Zimmer suggested.
"I don't think there will be very many redeeming qualities," he said.
Concerns include the Liberals' Green Plan, which Zimmer said will put the country's resource sector in the crosshairs, and talk that as much as $200 billion more in spending will be authorized by the end of the year.
He said the resource sector will be needed to pay off the bill the Liberals have been running up, yet they're "shutting it all in and it seems like they have a plan to shut even more in, so we need a change and we need it quick."
Despite the pandemic, Zimmer said an election can be held, noting the United States' elections will be going ahead this November.
"If this is the new normal when would be the perfect time?" Zimmer said.
Whether one is called this fall will depend on whether the Liberals, who are governing from a minority position, can gain enough support for the Throne Speech and budget from Opposition MPs in the House of Commons.
Taylor Bachrach, the NDP's MP in Skeena-Bulkley Valley said his party will be looking for measures to help tide over Canadians forced onto the unemployment line by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure a safe transition back into the workforce.
"When it comes to the recovery, we know that there are a lot of people who simply can't go back to work until needs like childcare are met," he noted.
Bachrach disputed concerns raised about the NDP's financial situation and said the party is ready to fight an election.
"Our fundraising has been quite successful as of late and people are feeling good about where we stand. That said, we're not going out of our way to cause an election, we're really focussed on the needs of Canadians during an unprecedented time."
As for the Conservatives' new leader, Bachrach said he is not sure O'Toole represents the fresh start the Tories needed, noting he brings the baggage of being the Veterans Affairs Minister in the Harper government at a time when veterans offices were being shut down across the country.
"One of the interesting aspects, and I know a lot of the pundits have been talking about this, is in the last leadership race he came across as an affable moderate and this time around, he put on a much more hard-line persona," Bachrach said. "It's going to be interesting to see which Erin O'Toole shows up in the House of Commons and in particular, how beholden he turns out to be to the social conservative faction within the party."
Tracy Calogheros, who ran for the Liberals in Cariboo-Prince George in the last election, said that with McKay now out of the picture, so-called Red Tories may no longer have a home and while there may be an opportunity for the Liberals to pick up some of that support, the Grits are veering to the left.
"It almost feels like things are getting more polarized, not less," Calogheros said. "And so you have Blue Liberals and Red Tories sitting in the middle where Canada tends to sit, saying 'I'm not sure where I sit anymore.'"
O'Toole reached out to Quebec nationalists when he spoke in French during his acceptance speech, Calogheros noted and added the Bloc Quebecois is the party making noises about an election this fall.
She doubts one will be called, however, due to the pandemic.
"To trigger an election at a time when Canadians don't want to be going to the polls, I don't see where that benefits the NDP or the Greens," Calogheros said.
After running twice under the Liberal banner, Calogheros said she won't be seeking a nomination if an election is called.
As it stands, the Liberals hold 115 seats, the Conservatives 121, the Bloc 32, the NDP 24, and the Greens three while there are two independents.
Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Todd Doherty was in transit on Monday and could not be reached for comment.
