Erin O’Toole left a former leadership rival out of her shadow cabinet. Did COVID-19 influence that decision?

OTTAWA – Conservative leader Erin O’Toole appeared to be sending a message to her troubled party group on Tuesday that she wants to mend the barriers, but there are some lines she is not prepared to cross.

Introducing his shadow cabinet Tuesday, O’Toole returned veteran MP Pierre Poilievre to the high-profile position of financial critic, but left former leadership rival Leslyn Lewis out of his inner circle.

Lewis made history last year as the first black woman to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party, and she mounted a strong campaign thanks in part to her socially conservative views and support among that highly committed faction of the party.

But that good faith ran into another reality O’Toole faces when he chose members of the Conservative team who will go head-to-head with the liberal government when Parliament returns: who is or is not vaccinated against COVID-19.

All MPs must be fully vaccinated to work in Parliament buildings as of November 22, a policy O’Toole has made clear his group will respect.

Within his group, however, are those who have argued against him for a general opposition to the need for COVID-19 vaccines, as well as an ideological opposition rooted in the belief that a person’s medical privacy is sacrosanct.

In turn, it is unclear how many Conservative MPs are actually vaccinated against COVID-19, or if O’Toole’s office has even been questioning them.

O’Toole has declined to say so, despite being asked every time he has answered questions from reporters in recent weeks.

But he was clear this week on two fronts: he hopes his caucus does not challenge the scientific consensus on COVID-19 by raising doubts about vaccines, and he hopes that the member on his front bench will be able to enter the Commons.

“Our shadow ministers will be ready from day one, to be here in the Chamber to fight inflation, to fight against the coalition (Liberal-NDP) that I have spoken of is a risk for our country,” he said. .

“And we will be ready to address the questions about vaccines and the other aspects of the pandemic that are still affecting this country.”

Lewis recently raised questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children, saying that medical privacy is of the utmost importance.

On Tuesday, she congratulated her colleagues on their new roles in O’Toole’s shadow cabinet, despite not being invited to join him.

“I look forward to working with each of you on your portfolios as we advocate for a better, stronger and more united Canada,” he wrote.

Lewis wasn’t the only Conservative MP to pass over for a shadow cabinet position who has raised questions about vaccines.

Some MPs who supported his bid for leadership and who have also spoken openly about medical privacy issues were removed, despite holding positions from previous critics.

Representative Marilyn Gladu, who apologized Tuesday for making misleading statements about COVID-19 and vaccines, was also passed over for a critical position, despite having once been a leadership contender and previously held leadership positions. first row. Gladu’s apology came after O’Toole criticized his comments.

The critics list revealed Tuesday was O’Toole’s latest attempt to create a cohesive front bench team since he became leader last year.

His inaugural shadow cabinet was enraged when MPs who had backed his main leadership rival, the progressive Peter MacKay, were exiled to the farthest benches, while socially conservative MPs who had backed Lewis, who at the time he was not yet a parliamentarian. herself – they were given work.

O’Toole further inflamed the irritations with confusion last year in which Poilievre, a popular veteran MP, was perceived to have been demoted when he was removed from the role of financial critic.

Some MacKay supporters reverted to the role of critics Tuesday when Poilievre was again appointed a financial critic, a move O’Toole said reflects the priority his party wants to give the economy.

Liberals “tremble” when they see Poilievre rise to speak in the Commons, O’Toole told reporters.

“We are really concerned about our economic future and I want someone who is tenacious,” O’Toole said. “I want Mr. Trudeau, I want (Finance Minister Chrystia) Freeland to worry about his complacency, his overspending.”

O’Toole also unveiled members of his “leadership team,” which will guide the party’s parliamentary priorities and strategies on any given day.

Manitoba MP Candice Bergen, one of the conservatives who faced significant challenges in the last People’s Party election, remains deputy leader and is the only woman in that group.

However, several newly elected women landed critical jobs, including Melissa Lantsman for transportation, Laila Goodridge for social development, Michelle Ferreri for tourism, and Shelby Kramp-Neuman for seniors.