Canada's Tories Oust O'Toole as Leader & The Trumpification Begins

After only 18 months on the job, Erin O'Toole is out as leader of Canada's Conservative Party. 

O'Toole looked like he had some momentum in last fall's snap election, but voters essentially returned the same parliament did they did in 2019 giving Justin Trudeau's Liberals another minority government.

To be sure there was discontent with O'Toole among Tory ranks for positioning himself as a centrist on issues such as the carbon tax and the LGBTQ community particularly his opposition to conversion therapy. But make no mistake. If there was no "trucker" convoy occupying Ottawa, O'Toole would still be on the job. Of course, O'Toole was trying to have it both ways by supporting the "trucker" convoy while denouncing extremists. But these "truckers" who are in Ottawa are the extremists and O'Toole's rivals like Finance Critic Pierre Pollivere see a political gold mine have pounced while O'Toole has been bounced.

Whoever succeeds O'Toole is going to take the Tories not only to the Right but to the Trumpist Right. This could help ensure Liberal governments in perpetuity. Then again Trudeau won't be around forever and if the Liberals pick an O'Toole like leader it is not inconceivable that Canada could have a Trump like figure living at 24 Sussex.