Newly elected Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole says he wants to work constructively with the Liberal minority government to bring effective leadership to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But O’Toole says his party will be ready if the Trudeau government tries to force a fall election.
O’Toole wouldn’t say whether he will support the Liberal’s speech from the throne, which is set for Sept. 23.
The speech will lay out the government’s post-pandemic plan and will be followed by a confidence vote.
O’Toole spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, a call both sides said was cordial and touched on the rigours of a campaign as well as the prorogation of Parliament.
The new Conservative leader says he told Trudeau he wants the government to address western alienation in its throne speech.
O’Toole spent his first day on the job on Monday meeting with senior members of the party, including former leader Andrew Scheer, as he strives to refresh the Opposition Leader’s Office and the party’s front benches.
A key strategy for the O’Toole campaign had been to focus on the fact he had a seat in the House of Commons and was ready to start work on defeating the Liberal government.
READ MORE: O’Toole likely to move quickly to put stamp on federal Conservative party
The Canadian Press
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