Gatineau Councillor and former Federal Conservative candidate Mike Duggan delighted with O’Toole’s victory

Following the election of Erin O’Toole as new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) on August 24, Deschênes councillor Mike Duggan sat down for an interview with the Bulletin about his contribution to the CPC effort and the future of the party.  

“I am an O’Toole supporter,” Duggan told the Bulletin. “He has solid principles of balance and inclusiveness. I look forward to working with his team to help him displace Justin Trudeau as Canadian Prime Minister in the next election and hopefully create a brighter future for Canadians.”

Among other things, Duggan said he will be helping district CPC associations mobilize for the next federal election, noting that he’s open to running for the Hull-Aylmer riding again if the opportunity presents itself. “I’m going to assist in the scouting efforts,” Duggan said. “I’ll try to find the most appropriate candidate … I may be one of those nominees. I’m open to taking on the responsibility.”

Pointing out that the CPC’s chances in the Hull-Aylmer riding are usually slim, if not non-existent, Duggan said he’s dedicated to fighting for what he believes in – no matter what people think. Confident that the current “scandal-plagued, corrupt” Prime Minister will receive a motion of no confidence when the House of Commons goes back in session in late September, Duggan believes it’s near certain that the next federal election will take place either this fall or during the spring. Pointing to a recent CPC membership surge in the province following O’Toole’s leadership campaign, Duggan said the party has a great opportunity to carry its momentum and turn it into results at the voting booth.

For Duggan, the modern CPC platform – especially in Hull-Aylmer – has long been ill-perceived or misrepresented by mainstream media. “If people were to realize what we have to offer, Eastern Canada would be far more open to it,” Duggan said. “Our job is to challenge the false narrative that is being put against us and wake Canadians up to good governance.”

In the 2019 federal election, Duggan ran for the CPC in the Hull-Aylmer riding, garnering 9.1% of the vote (4,979 votes). Liberal incumbent MP Greg Fergus took 54.1% of the vote (29,732 votes). In that same election, both the NDP and the Bloc came ahead of the Conservatives (Bloc Québécois: 14.6% of the vote, 8,011 votes; NDP: 13.6% of the vote, 7,467 votes). The Greens were just behind the Conservatives with 7.0% of the vote, with 3,869 votes.

Before Liberal Greg Fergus, NDP’s Nycole Turmel won in Hull-Aylmer in 2011 with 59.2% of the vote; that is, 35,194 votes.