By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters), – Canadian Conservative lawmakers ousted Erin O’Toole, their leader. Erin was angry at the third consecutive defeat to Justin Trudeau’s Liberals during a 2021 election.

O’Toole took the leadership of Conservative Party in August 2020 and was replaced by legislators who voted 73-45. He had promised to defeat Trudeau, but instead led his right-leaning party in a disappointing end at the 2021 elections.

In remarks on Facebook (NASDAQ :), O’Toole stated that he will remain in Parliament and pledged “unwavering loyalty to” the next leader.

According to a statement, Candice Bergen was elected interim leader by the party ahead of an O’Toole convention. Bergen, who has served in Parliament since 2008, was criticised last year when a undated photo of her sporting a “Make America Great again” hat (a slogan by former U.S. President Donald Trump) emerged.

Conservatives disenchanted by O’Toole’s campaign announcements of major policies, without consulting the public, claimed O’Toole had pulled them too far to the center.

O’Toole represents a constituency in the Ontario vote-rich province.

However, many within his party were upset by the decision. They have a populist wing. The Conservatives are likely to swing further right after the ouster of his leader.

One former top Conservative official said, “What’s next? They lose the next election.”

Pierre Poilievre (the party’s finance critic) is one of several potential candidates for the leadership. He is also a popular lawmaker and a favourite with the right-wing. He supported a trucker protest against COVID-19 mandates, which paralyzes central Ottawa.

O’Toole noted that “all it takes to show how divided our country really is” and encouraged his party to recognize the fact that “our country is divided, people are concerned.”

O’Toole first distanced himself away from the demonstration. However, insiders claim that this had upset some legislators during a period when they weren’t happy with their performance.

He was ultimately sunk by his inability to show humility and contrition after the election. Jamie Ellerton (conservative strategist, principal of Conaptus and a member of the Conaptus board), stated that there was no strategy for improving things.

Trudeau’s defeat of O’Toole could be good news. Trudeau can now rule while his rivals focus on succession. There is no date yet for a leadership convention.

Trudeau is the head of a minor government. However, he has steady support from leftist New Democrats in order to pass legislation. O’Toole was also thanked for their service.

A senior Liberal strategist stated that Trudeau’s party must not sound triumphant.

According to the strategist, “This may be good now but no one can tell it’s good long-term,” he said. The request for anonymity was made due to the sensitive nature the situation.

In 2003, the Conservative Party was formed by a combination of a populist right-wing and center-right party. Some worry about a split. Legislators stressed that the party was united after the vote.

Pierre Paul-Hus (the party’s public safety critic) said that there is always a bad time to do a lot of different things, but you sometimes have to face them. On Wednesday, lawmakers will elect an interim chief.