O’Toole boots senator from caucus over starting petition challenging his leadership – By Brian Platt (National Post) / Nov 16 2021
At least 25 Tory MPs publicly opposed a leadership referendum petition by posting statements on Twitter in support of Erin O’Toole
OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has ejected Sen. Denise Batters from the Conservative caucus after she announced a petition to hold an early leadership review and publicly slammed his record as leader.
The ejection was announced in a statement Tuesday night, on the eve of a caucus meeting Wednesday morning.
“Senator Denise Batters has been removed from the Conservative National Caucus,” O’Toole’s statement said. “As the Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, I will not tolerate an individual discrediting and showing a clear lack of respect towards the efforts of the entire Conservative caucus, who are holding the corrupt and disastrous Trudeau government to account.”
Although the Conservatives have adopted a Reform Act provision requiring a caucus vote before expelling an MP, the measure does not apply to senators.
