The federal Conservative party has a new leader and the Central Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 local MPs think he will be a 香蕉视频直播渦nifier香蕉视频直播 for conservatives across the country.
Erin O香蕉视频直播橳oole was declared the winner of the leadership race early Monday morning after technical problems delayed the vote results by hours, as thousands of ballots had to be replicated by hand after the counting machine shredded their envelopes.
After three rounds of counting, O香蕉视频直播橳oole emerged the victor with 57 per cent of the vote, a resounding victory over his rival Peter MacKay, who won 43 per cent.
Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas said O香蕉视频直播橳oole香蕉视频直播檚 vast private sector experience 香蕉视频直播 both as a lawyer and a helicopter navigator in the Royal Canadian Air Force 香蕉视频直播 has him well equipped to represent the beliefs of the people of the Central Okanagan.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 already in the leader of the official Opposition香蕉视频直播檚 office, doing the work and hitting the ground running exactly as he said he would,香蕉视频直播 Albas said.
The high voter turnout 香蕉视频直播 with over 175,000 ballots cast 香蕉视频直播 shows the Conservative movement is very strong, Albas said, and people are interested in politics and want to see a change.
香蕉视频直播淭he Conservative voters last night sent a very clear message to Ottawa,香蕉视频直播 he said.
READ MORE: O香蕉视频直播橳oole likely to move quickly to put stamp on federal Conservative party
READ MORE: Erin O香蕉视频直播橳oole wins Conservative leadership after results delayed for hours
Kelowna Lake Country MP Tracy Gray said she spent a day and a half knocking on doors with O香蕉视频直播橳oole last summer when she was in the midst of her own election campaign. To Gray, O香蕉视频直播橳oole represents a movement towards unity in the large tent of beliefs that the Conservative party represents.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 head down, hardworking and that香蕉视频直播檚 what we need right now,香蕉视频直播 said Gray, who endorsed O香蕉视频直播橳oole throughout his campaign.
While Albas didn香蕉视频直播檛 endorse any of the four candidates who ran for the party香蕉视频直播檚 leadership, he香蕉视频直播檚 fully supportive of the new leader.
香蕉视频直播淗e brings a lot of perspective from outside of government香蕉视频直播 and he has a lot of experience in the House as well,香蕉视频直播 said Albas.
O香蕉视频直播橳oole香蕉视频直播檚 strong performance in both Western provinces and Quebec also bode confidence in local parliamentarians come the next election 香蕉视频直播 whenever that may be.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has prorogued Parliament until Sept. 23, at which point he will give a throne speech. After that speech, opposing parties could potentially trigger an election with a non-confidence vote.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 been a lot of speculation about what will happen in the fall and he has to be prepared for all of it,香蕉视频直播 Albas said.
香蕉视频直播淏ut given what happened in the leadership election and how good his French is, he can connect with people from right across this country in their own language and share his positive vision for this country.香蕉视频直播
Currently, Gray and Albas serve as critics in the official Opposition香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渟hadow cabinet.香蕉视频直播 Gray serves as the interprovincial trade critic, while Albas is the critic of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檒l be up to the leader,香蕉视频直播 Gray said when asked whether she anticipates her and Albas will keep their critic positions. 香蕉视频直播淎nd of course, with the throne speech, we香蕉视频直播檒l have to see if the government has confidence or if the government will fall.香蕉视频直播
-With files from The Canadian Press
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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