Candice Bergen says she is focused squarely on strengthening the conservative movement as the newly elected interim Conservative Party leader.
Bergen was named interim leader late Wednesday night following the ousting of Erin O鈥橳oole earlier in the day at the party鈥檚 caucus meeting.
鈥淚鈥檓 ready, and so is our caucus. Over the next few months, my colleagues and I will be listening and acting. My goal as Interim Leader is to strengthen our movement and leave the next leader with a party that鈥檚 ready to win,鈥� she said in her first official statement as interim leader.
鈥淎s we move forward, it鈥檚 important that Conservatives come together from coast-to-coast-to-coast to focus on Justin Trudeau鈥檚 cost of living crisis, his divisive approach that is threatening our national unity, and his repeated ethical scandals.鈥�
The Manitoba MP sat as deputy leader under O鈥橳oole, as Minister of State for Social Development under prime minister Stephen Harper and as Opposition House leader under previous interim leader Rona Ambrose.
Bergen beat out eight other candidates seeking the title.
She thanked O鈥橳oole and his wife Rebecca, and his children Mollie and Jack for their service to the party and the country.
鈥淭he professionalism and dedication that Erin brought to the job is something that I will continue as Leader of the Conservative Party. I would also like to thank my colleagues for putting their trust in me to lead the Conservative Party. I will work hard every day to earn that trust,鈥� she said.
Bergen鈥檚 colleagues reflected on her win and the fate of the party heading into the House of Commons on Thursday.
鈥淚鈥檓 very pleased with the election of Candice Bergen as interim leader. She brings a great deal of experience, she鈥檚 widely respected within caucus, she鈥檚 served on leadership teams of all of the three leaders I鈥檝e served under, so I think we鈥檙e going regroup and unite and work hard to hold Justin Trudeau to account,鈥� said Alberta MP Michael Cooper.
Ontario MP John Brassard echoed Cooper's sentiment about the work ahead.
鈥淥bviously there鈥檚 a lot of fear and anxiety in this country, a lot of divisiveness, so we鈥檙e going to work hard to make sure that we unite Canadians, and I鈥檓 sure Candice will do that within the party,鈥� he said.
Bergen received a standing ovation from her team at the start of question period on Thursday, before directing a series of pointed questions at the government.
She took the opportunity to ask how the Liberals plan to resolve the ongoing trucker protests outside Parliament Hill.
鈥淲here is the olive branch, because Canadians are looking for an olive branch鈥he government doesn't have to agree. They don't have to even like the protesters and the trucks that are parked outside but they need to provide a solution. So could they please tell Canadians what the solution is to get past this impasse?鈥� she asked.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland instead cited the need to speak out against racist and hate-fuelled symbols and the movements that tolerate them.
Speculation is mounting already about who will put their name in the hat to become the permanent leader of the official opposition.
Ontario MP Pierre Poilievre, the party鈥檚 finance critic, is being dubbed a front runner, as is Alberta MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who currently sits as the natural resources critic.
Outside the elected, there are whispers that Peter MacKay, a former cabinet minister and candidate in the last leadership race, will join back in.
As for Ambrose, a statement issued Wednesday reads 鈥淢y heart says yes but my head says no. I鈥檓 not going to go back at this juncture in my life. Our kids are at the age where they need us and I am enjoying being in business.鈥�
Party president Robert Batherson told 麻豆影视 the timeline of an upcoming leadership race is still unknown at this point.
鈥淪tep one, National Council has to appoint a leadership election organizing committee 鈥� it鈥檚 that committee that drafts the rules and procedures for a vote. My hope is that we can start the process of getting that committee in place, hopefully within the next 24 to 48 hours,鈥� he said on Thursday.
This will be the third leadership race for the party since 2017.
