One of the 14 candidates in the federal Conservative leadership race made a stop in Airdrie on March 1st

Erin O'Toole stopped by the Airdrie Legion to speak to a group of people who were interested in his leadership hopes.  O'Toole came along with Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards who wholeheartedly endorsed the candidate as his pick for the leader of the party.

"Blake has been my friend and ally from day one," said O'Toole, "I'm very fortunate to have his support. I've been to Airdrie before but I wanted to to meet his team and get their support in this leadership race."

O'Toole reiterated his concerns for the job situation as his number one priority.  "My main focus is jobs. My focus has always to get rid of the Liberals jobs crisis. It's most acute here in Alberta where people are suffering. When I speak to people they are most worried about the the carbon tax, Premier Notley, Justin Trudeau. There's uncertainty about our resource sector."  

During his speech to the packed Legion, O'Toole got his largest round of applause when he described the carbon tax as a "cash grab," and said that he would repeal it as Prime Minister. 

14 candidates are in the race to replace Stephen Harper as the leader of the Conservatives and O'Toole thinks his main opposition in the race isn't Kevin O'Leary, but Maxime Bernier.

"He's been in the race over a year, and I've been in for five months. He doesn't have that much support among MPs despite the fact he's been an MP for ten years. I've been an MP for four years...I served in the military for 12 and the private sector for ten. So I bring the experience and the ability to grow the party and that's what people like Blake see.  But sometimes the head start gives these people a bit more momentum early on."

The 44 year old O'Toole has been an MP for the Durham region in Ontario since 2012.  He served as Minister of Veterans Affairs in the Harper cabinet in 2015.

The Conservatives will elect their new leader May 27th.   

 

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