MP Thinks O’Toole Can Unite Atlantic Canada

A New Brunswick member of Parliament thinks the secret to Erin O’Toole’s success is how he included all Conservative party members during his campaign for leader including his competitors.

The Ontario MP won the Federal Conservative leadership on the third ballot.

Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore believes it was a strong vote for O’Toole on the final ballot.

“Even though I was watching it at three in the morning, he had a really good speech. There’s a better way forward than what we have right now. I was very encouraged by his speech and by his ability to reach out to the other camps,” Moore said.

Peter McKay was the front runner among voters in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia but Moore doesn’t think it will hurt O’Toole’s chances to unite Conservative voters in Atlantic Canada.

Moore was asked what kind of impact O’Toole’s victory could have for the Maritime voters that chose someone else.

“It’s no surprise that Peter MacKay would have a strong showing here. Peter is a Nova Scotian and a strong supporter of New Brunswick. When I served with him, he understands our region.
He will still be playing a significant role I’m sure,” Moore said.

Moore said “understanding the rest of the country” is part of the job of the new leader.

“Erin has a leg up on that compared to some of the other potential candidates. He already has an understanding of the region. So I’m not concerned about Erin O’Toole’s ability to know what’s happening in our region, what the challenges are that we face,” Moore said.

Moore considers it a significant advantage that O’Toole already has a seat in the House of Commons.

He said he won’t rule out a federal vote this fall but, he said it’s not a certainty either.