Local young Conservatives share mixed reactions on new party leader Erin O'Toole

University of WindsorConservatives president Devon Clark says he's feeling hopeful about the party's future with Erin O'Toole as its new leader, though not everyone agrees.

With the help of social conservative members and the backing of Conservatives in every part of the country except the Maritimes, O'Toole won an emphatic victory over Peter MacKayearly Monday. O'Toole won with 59 per cent of the vote and 57 per cent of the weighted points up for grabs.

"I certainly hope he'll be able to do a better job than Andrew Scheer in an election scenario," Clark said. "I am hopeful that O'Toole can reach out to Canadians and not make some of the same mistakes that Andrew Scheer did."

During his winning speech, O'Toole acknowledgedthe party needs to broaden its base to win the next election andreachout to all Canadians in all regions of the country and those from diverse backgrounds.

Asurvey by Ipsos for Global Newsdone just days before the vote found that 68 per cent of Canadians didnot know enough about O'Toole to form an opinion of him. Even a majority of Conservative voters weren't familiar with the man who has now become their new leader.

'You have a home': O'Toole

"I believe that whether you are Black, white, brown or from any race or creed, whether you are LGBT or straight, whether you are an Indigenous Canadian or have joined the Canadian family three weeks ago or three generations ago," O'Toole said.

"Whether you're doing well or barely getting by. Whether you worship on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or not at all you are an important part of Canada and you have a home in the Conservative Party of Canada."

The speech, Clark said, was well done and reflected the diversity of the party.

Clark said he thinksScheer was too silent on certain social issues. By comparison, he sees O'Toole asstronger on pro-LGBTissues but is still able to reach out to social conservatives that form part of the party's base.

WATCH | Here's what these young Conservative's had to say about the party's new leader:

Young Conservatives react to Erin O'Toole's win

4 years ago

Duration 2:56

Young Conservatives in Windsor-Essex are reacting to the party's new leader Erin O'Toole. We hear from University of Windsor Conservatives president Devon Clark and party member Maggie McAuley.

But not all Conservative party members were rooting forO'Toole, Windsor memberMaggie McAuleysaid she was hoping Leslyn Lewis would win.

"[I'm] disappointed but not devastated," said McAuley. "An O'Toolewin isn't great but it's not the disaster that would have been a McKay win."

She felt McKay winningwould have been "devastating to the party" and said she had been ready to relinquish her membership had he won.

"Erin O'Toole is an okay middle ground," she added.

This was O'Toole's second attempt at the party leadership. He finished third in the 2017 race, behind Maxime Bernierand Andrew Scheer.