Conservative member attacking O'Toole's leadership could be dropped from party council, president warns

The president of the Conservative Party says party national council memberBert Chen's sponsorship ofa petition "attacking" leader Erin O'Toole puts him at risk of being dropped from the council.

"When you hold an office in the party, there's an expectation that your conduct is such that it doesn't detract or harm the interests or the reputation of ...the national council on which you serve ...the party and ...the leader," Rob Batherson, president of the Conservative Party of Canada, told CBC News.

Only hours after the Conservatives' election loss was confirmed, Chen, who represents Ontario on the Conservative party's national council, publicly challenged O'Toole's leadership.

Chen started an online petition calling for O'Toole to face an earlier leadership review. The current one is scheduled fortwo years from now, in 2023.

Don't go 'down that path,' president warns

Batherson said he's received many complaints from members across the country who thinkChen is misusing his position on the national council.

"Use that position in a constructive way, to engage the leadership on conveying views that you're hearing from the members," he said, adding that council members should not go"down a path where you're literally lighting a torch before all the ballots have been actually counted."

In an email, Chen told CBChe is merelyrepresenting the views ofmany members. He said his petition has received more signatures than another one that was started in support ofO'Toole's leadership.

"I have received overwhelming support in favour of my petition from members of the Conservative Party. This can be evidenced by the more than 4,000 signatures to my petition, versus the 2,000 in support of Mr. O'Toole," Chen wrote.

"A national councillor's duty is to represent the concerns of the membership, not to run interference for a leader who has lost their confidence. I will continue to act in the best interest of our membership, and I am confident that my colleagues on National Council respect my duty to the membership."

WATCH: Conservative Bert Chen explains his reasons for calling for an early leadership review

Conservative national councillor launches online petition to review OTooles leadership

3 years ago

Duration 7:33

Conservative Party National Councillor Bert Chen joins Power & Politics to discuss why he's launched on an online petition to recall Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole.

Last week, Chen told CBC's Power and Politics that he and many other members felt "betrayed and upset" afterO'Toolemovedthe party's election platformto the centre, contradicting the "true blue" image he ran on in the leadership racejust one year earlier.

"Conservatives believe in integrity and we believe in accountability, so integrity means keeping true to your beliefs and what you've communicated that you will run on, and not changing them halfway through an election or on a dime," Chen said.

Batherson saidit's fine for Chen to have these opinionsbut,as a party office holder,he should have expressed them behind closed doors to the members of the national council first.

"Would the media have paid as much attention to Bert Chen, an average party member, launching a petition, versus Bert Chen, a member of national council, launching the petition?" he asked.

"So a lot of our party members in particular, a lot of party members in Ontario have reached out to me, have reached out to national council, expressing concern that Mr. Chen has abused his position on national council."

Batherson said the party's constitution allows for the removal or suspension of a member of the national council if theothercouncil members feeltheconduct in question has hurt the reputation of the party or leader.

Batherson said council members will review all the complaints submitted and giveChen the opportunity to explain why he chose to act in such "a public and aggressive way."

The council is expected todecide on Chen's fate at theirnext meeting, setfor mid-October.