MNI BRIEF: Canada Opposition Leader Sacked in Party Revolt

Canada's opposition Conservative Party voted Wednesday to remove Erin O'Toole as leader after a revolt by lawmakers blaming him for watering down the party's principles and losing last September's election to Justin Trudeau's Liberals.

Conservative members of Parliament voted 73-45 to remove O'Toole according to a media statement from National Conservative Caucus Chair Scott Reid, which didn't address the process for finding an interim leader or a permanent replacement.

Weaker opposition makes it easier in the short term for Trudeau to press ahead with deficits amid signs they may boost inflation, and tamp down questions about whether he should lead the Liberals in the next election. Last year's campaign disappointed both parties, with Trudeau failing to win a majority of seats and Conservatives losing their early momentum.

One of the likely leadership candidates is Pierre Poilievre, who has blamed the Bank of Canada’s QE program and fiscal stimulus for feeding inflation. Poilievre also said the Bank’s mandate review last year should have stuck to a narrow 2% inflation target and not added language on seeking maximum employment when conditions permit.