13.66°C Vancouver

Mar 31, 2023 6:20 PM - The Canadian Press

Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole not seeking re-election, leaving this spring

Share On
former-conservative-leader-erin-otoole-not-seeking-re-election-leaving-this-spring
The Ontario MP led the Conservatives and served as official Opposition leader from August 2020 until February 2022, when a majority of his caucus voted to remove him from the post (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says he will not seek re-election and plans to resign his seat this spring.

The Ontario MP led the Conservatives and served as official Opposition leader from August 2020 until February 2022, when a majority of his caucus voted to remove him from the post.

That followed months of tensions over O'Toole's management of caucus and attempts to moderate the party's image.

Those efforts led to concerns that he flip-flopped on key policy positions, including on carbon pricing and gun control.

O'Toole has kept a low profile on Parliament Hill since his ousting and in a statement on social media today says he plans to keep his seat until the end of the spring session.

He says he remains "a proud Conservative" and had "the unique privilege to lead our party amid a challenging time for our country."

Latest news

CanadaSep 14, 2026

European Parliament Opens Ottawa Office as Canada-EU Ties Deepen

Canada and the European Union are set to deepen their diplomatic ties, with the European Parliament announcing the opening of a dedicated office in Ottawa ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Europe. The move comes as Carney’s government seeks to strengthen trade and defence partnerships with the EU while reducing Canada’s reliance on the United States. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Monday that Europe and Canada share common views on several issues, including the rules-based international order. She said the new presence in Ottawa would help turn that partn
surrey-police-service-issues-warning-about-a-high-risk-offender
BCSep 14, 2026

Surrey Police Service issues warning about a high-risk offender

Surrey Police Service has issued a warning about a high-risk offender who has been released in Surrey. Police say 26-year-old Skyler Wayne Pelletier has a history of violent and sexual offences involving members of the public, including women. According to SPS, Pelletier is an Indigenous man who is 6-foot-2, heavy-set, with short black hair and brown eyes. He has been released under strict court-ordered conditions, including no contact with victims or their families and a prohibition from entering within two blocks of the 2500-block of Woodland Drive in Vancouver. He must also follow a curfew
b-c-conservative-mla-donegal-wilson-announces-decision-to-join-milobars-new-party
BCSep 14, 2026

B.C. Conservative MLA Donegal Wilson announces decision to join Milobar’s new party

B.C. Conservative MLA Donegal Wilson has announced that she is joining Peter Milobar’s new political party, becoming the seventh MLA in the newly formed group. Wilson, who represents Boundary-Similkameen, said in a statement that she left the B.C. Conservatives because of disagreements with party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s policies. She said Milobar’s new party aims to provide British Columbians with a strong alternative to the B.C. NDP. With Wilson’s move, the new party will now become the third-largest group in the B.C. legislature. The governing NDP currently holds 47 seats, while
home-sales-in-b-c-decline-4-7-in-august
BCSep 14, 2026

Home Sales in B.C. Decline 4.7% in August

Home sales in British Columbia declined in August compared with the same month last year, according to the B.C. Real Estate Association. The association said 5,653 residential units were sold across the province last month, down 4.7 per cent from August 2025 and 25.4 per cent below the 10-year average for the month. B.C. Real Estate Association chief economist Brendon Ogmundson said the housing market continues to show signs of a gradual recovery. However, he noted that new tariffs and a recent rise in long-term interest rates remain risks for the housing market. The report said the average ho
russia-welcomes-trump-appeal-for-ukraine-to-halt-attacks-on-fuel-facilities
WorldSep 14, 2026

Russia welcomes Trump appeal for Ukraine to halt attacks on fuel facilities

Russia on Monday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal for Ukraine to stop targeting Russian diesel production and fuel infrastructure. Trump on Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to target Russia’s diesel facilities, saying the attacks were contributing to fuel shortages and causing wider harm. Ukraine has carried out long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure in recent months. The strikes have affected fuel production, with shortages of gasoline and other fuels reported in parts of Russia. Ukraine has said its attacks

Related News