Ontario MP Erin O'Toole to explore Conservative leadership bid

Durham MP Erin O'Toole has resigned as Conservative public safety critic to explore a bid for the leadership of the party.

"I believe the future of our party is bright," he wrote in his resignation letter to interimConservative Leader Rona Ambrose.

"We do not need a new leader to fix us, because we are not broken. We do not need a leader to unite us, because we are not divided. That so many of us want to lead is proof of our shared belief in the party's future."

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He said he held off on resigning his critic role so he could contribute to a committee study on operational stress injury. His letter said he has started to assemble a team to explore his leadership.

O'Toole had previously run for the interim leadership of the Conservatives, but lost to Ambrose. He thanked her for her contribution to the party.

O'Toole was first elected to the House of Commons in a byelection2012.Heserved in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet as minister of veterans affairs and parliamentary secretary for international trade.

Prior to politics, O'Toole was a lawyer for Proctor & Gamble and an air navigatorin the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The Conservatives are expecting to choose their new leader inMay 2017.

The contenders, so far

Candidate who hasdeclared, registered and paid thefullfee:MichaelChong.

Candidateswho have declared and registered:MaximeBernier; Tony Clement;KellieLeitch;DeepakObhrai;AndrewScheer.

Potential candidates whohave declared only:Dan Lindsay;PierreLemieux;Adrienne Snow;BradTrost.

Expected to declare soon:Chris Alexander; StevenBlaney; Erin O'Toole.

Others who have mused about running but not declared:Kevin O'Leary;Rick Peterson;LisaRaitt.