Conservatives will not attract disgruntled liberals by being “liberal-light”: interim leader

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“We are not giving them a home in our party by becoming liberals,” said Candice Bergman. “We welcome them into our conservative home, being consistently conservative.”

Author of the article:

The Canadian press

Stephanie Taylor

Publication date:

May 6, 2022 • 1 day ago • 1 minute reading • 178 comments Interim Federal Conservative leader Candice Bergen. Photo by Patrick Doyle / Reuters / File

Content of the article

OTTOVA – Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen says the party will not attract disgruntled liberals into the fold by being a “simplified” version of their main rivals.

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“We do not give them a home in our party by becoming liberals,” she said on Friday. “We welcome them into our conservative home, being consistently conservative.”

She made the statement in a video speech released in a room with members of the conservative movement and party supporters gathered in downtown Ottawa for a three-day conference.

Her remarks come a day after five of the six candidates vying for the post of former leader Erin O’Toole discussed each other on stage, focusing on the other’s political past and what level of support they expressed for the Freedom Convoy. , together with a common reason for combating vaccine and mask mandates.

Bergen, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, focused much of her speech on the importance of the party being proud and adhering to its conservative values.

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Her path to her current role was partly paved with concerns that conservative lawmakers and party members had about O’Toole’s efforts to increase support for the party. He moderates some of its policies and brand – an approach that critics say is trying to be “liberal”.

1. Candidates exchange photos of a convoy of trucks, abortion during a leadership debate

2. Avoid calling leadership rivals “non-conservative,” Bergman warns

Months of discontent among the group’s members culminated in a third of Tory lawmakers forcing him to vote for his leadership, where a majority chose to abandon him.

Bergen told the audience on Friday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had moved the Liberals to the left, leaving some older supporters looking for another option.

She said the Conservative Party could be a new home for them, but only if it was truly conservative.

The interim leader also encouraged candidates for leadership to listen to advice given in a letter to all campaigns by former Canadian Reform Party leader Preston Manning to avoid personal attacks.