Banff-Airdrie Member of Parliament Blake Richards has been removed as chief opposition whip by the new interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Bergen.
Richards told the Airdrie City View he wasn’t that surprised by the internal change-up of the parliamentary leadership team, and he is excited about new opportunities ahead.
“Whenever there's a change of leader, there's always a change of the team around the leader and I wish the new parliamentary leadership team well,” Richards said.
Serving as part of the last parliamentary leadership team was a real honour, he said, adding that while the role was time-consuming, it gave him greater opportunity to bring forward his and his constituents' viewpoints.
“You're meeting each morning with the leader of the party, giving them direct advice. It was a real opportunity to bring forward constituents' concerns,” he said.
According to reports by The Canadian Press, Alberta MP Blaine Calkins, the representative for Red Deer-Lacombe, is taking over Richards’ position as chief opposition whip. Richards served in the role for just under two years under former Conservative party leader Erin O’Toole.
“I've worked with [Calkins] for many years and he's someone that will work hard in that role,” Richards said.
Now that Richards is no longer part of his party’s leadership team, he said he is excited about being more involved in the upcoming leadership race to select the Conservatives' new leader, after O’Toole was ousted by a caucus vote last week.
During a virtual meeting on Feb. 2, Conservative MPs cast secret ballots after one-third of them signed a notice that triggered an accelerated leadership review.
According to reports by The Canadian Press, O'Toole was voted out of his position by a vote of 73-45.
In a statement last week, Richards thanked O'Toole and his family for their commitment to public service.
“I wish him well, and look forward to continuing to work with him in his role as MP for Durham,” he stated.
With the relationships he built with all members of the Conservative caucus as opposition whip, Richards said he hopes to be a bridge-builder and unifier within the party, moving ahead.
While he plans to focus on the leadership race and making sure the party is united, his primary focus will always remain the concerns of his constituents, he said.
Following the ousting of O'Toole, Bergen was elected as the Conservative party's interim leader. The Manitoba MP will serve as the party's leader until the third Conservative leadership race will be held since former party leader and prime minister Stephen Harper lost power to the Liberals in 2015.
“Candice is someone I have worked with for many years,” Richards said in his earlier statement. “From the Harper government, to the leadership team in opposition. I know she will continue to fight for Canadians and hold the Liberals to account everyday. While I believe grassroots members should be the ones to vote in a leadership review, the decision has been made and I fully support our interim leader. Party membership will have the opportunity to elect our next leader, and I look forward to an exciting leadership campaign.”
Leadership race
Pierre Poilievre, the Conservatives' high-profile finance critic, was the first candidate to launch his bid over the Feb. 5-6 weekend to become the party's next leader, with many fellow MPs already endorsing his run.
In a video posted online, Poilievre talked about lowering taxes, raising a family according to one's own values, and "freedom to make your own health and vaccine choices."
He mentioned needing less regulation for businesses and gave a nod to firearms owners, saying the federal Liberal government is unfairly targeting law-abiding hunters and farmers.
The leadership race has not officially begun, the party's election committee doesn't yet exist and no rules have been released.
“I would consider Pierre a good friend and I have a great deal of respect for him,” said Richards, who met Poilievre while he was still in high school and later the two attended university together.
“I think he's one of the smartest people I've ever met. He's a great communicator and he's going to have a lot of support from our riding and I think all across the country.”
Richards said he looks forward to seeing who else puts their names forward, but that Poilievre would make a great leader.
As for his own role within the party, Richards said being leader of the party is not something he aspires to, despite encouragement over the years to run for the position.
“As supportive as my wife is of the work that I do, I think it would be tough to convince her that leadership would be one I should seek,” he said.
Richards condemns acts of hate at Ottawa convoy
When asked about the ongoing truck convoy and protests in Ottawa against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates, Richards said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has failed to handle the pandemic in its entirety, and is now failing to acknowledge protesters properly.
“I think this government owes people who've come here to let their feelings be heard, they owe them a chance to be heard and all Canadians need to see some kind of plan to move forward from this. Right now this is a very divided country and we need a government that's going to work to unify it,” Richards said.
On Jan. 29, truckers and supporters of what was dubbed the ‘Freedom Convoy’ arrived in Ottawa from across the country to protest government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine passports.
According to Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, illegal actions by protesters caused stress and hardship to residents. On Twitter, Watson posted about hateful actions taking place, numerous tickets that have been issued by Ottawa police, and several arrests made for “mischief.”
Watson declared a state of emergency for the City of Ottawa on Feb. 6 due to the ongoing demonstrations and an Ontario judge granted a 10-day injunction on Feb. 7 forbidding truckers parked on city streets in downtown Ottawa from constantly honking their horns.
According to Richards, to end the protests, people first need to be heard and then the government needs to provide a plan to move forward.
In terms of some protesters disrespecting national symbols and touting hateful messages, such as dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and desecrating a Terry Fox monument, Richards said those actions were disgraceful and something he condemned.
“I know all Canadians join me in condemning those things and they're never acceptable in any context. At the same time, I hope it doesn't completely cloud the message that others with good intentions have come [to Ottawa] to bring,” he said.
He added the hateful messages are being portrayed by a small number of people and that the majority of protesters are there with a legitimate message.
