不是早就在那里么。
Erin O'Toole, former veterans affairs minister. (Adrian Wyld)
Erin O’Toole
The eastern hope
Age: 44
Position: MP for Durham
In a leadership race with no fewer than five candidates from Ontario, Erin O’Toole has reached out to East Coast connections to drum up support.
The former veterans affairs minister studied law at Halifax’s Dalhousie University, and was stationed in Nova Scotia during his time in the Canadian Forces. In a recent interview with iPolitics, O’Toole revealed his favourite beer is Keith’s — another fact that could ingratiate the candidate with Bluenose Tories.
His eastern overtures have paid off with endorsements from Nova Scotia PC Leader Jamie Baillie, as well as John Hamm, the province’s former premier.
O’Toole will need to muster all the support he can get in the region to stay competitive in the still crowded race to replace Stephen Harper.
Born in Montreal in 1973, O’Toole was raised in Bowmanville, Ont. He came to politics honestly enough — his father, John O’Toole, served as the MPP for Durham from 1995 to 2014.
O’Toole was first voted into the House of Commons in a byelection in 2012, replacing former cabinet minister Bev Oda. In 2013, Harper appointed him the government’s parliamentary secretary for international trade and, in 2015, gave him the veterans affairs portfolio.
During his short time in cabinet, O’Toole was given credit for getting a handle on the veterans file — a significant source of criticism for the Conservative government, especially during Julian Fantino’s tenure as minister.
He’s running on a platform of free trade, health-care reform and strengthening ties with traditional allies like the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. O’Toole has also pledged to “stand up” for veterans, for gun owners and for farm families — all familiar territory for the Conservative party.
O’Toole opposes the Liberal government’s carbon pricing plan, but has argued that the Conservatives need to articulate a larger vision on the environment and to combat climate change.
The Durham MP has also urged his colleagues to avoid personal attacks during the leadership race, while accusing Kevin O’Leary of being a closet Liberal.
Chance of winning: O’Toole appears to be in the middle of the pack, although closer to the top than the bottom. He’s fundraising well and collecting endorsements, and the Conservatives’ ranked ballot system provides the possibility of come-from-behind victories.
