Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff says new Federal Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole is a leader who is not afraid to listen, and is there to hear from all Canadians.
Ruff supported Durham MP Erin O’Toole from the earliest stages of the leadership race, saying he’s, “Proud to have stood beside him and supported him in his campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.” O’Toole ran against three other candidates, Peter MacKay, Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan.
Ruff released a statement Monday saying, “Mr. O’Toole put forward insightful, positive, and forward-thinking proposals that inspired Conservatives with his vision for the future of Canada.”
Ruff is a Colonel who retired in 2019 from a 25 year career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who has known O’Toole since their Royal Military College days back in the 1990s. O’Toole served as a rescue and surveillance helicopter navigator with the CAF for 12 years, mainly on Canada’s East Coast. He went on to a career as a corporate lawyer and was elected as an MP in 2012.
Ruff says O’Toole has, “Always been a person who’s not afraid to put out on the table what he represents and who he is, but at the same time, he’s quite clear that he has that flexibility to take what he’s hearing back from the people and mould that and adapt that into what Canadians want.”
Ruff Adds, “He’s not just tied to, ‘It’s my way or the highway,’ that’s not Erin. Erin’s there for everybody.”
He says, “He represents the average Canadian. Common sense will always drive him and what’s best for all Canadians. As well, he’s going to pull together a full team. He’s a policy wonk, he’s not afraid to get in and understand the details. It’s not just talking points. He understands the issues before he goes off and he’s not afraid to listen.”
In his public statement, Ruff notes, “I know all Conservatives will unite behind our new leader, and I’m confident come the next federal election Canadians will choose Erin as the next Prime Minister of Canada.”
My statement on @ErinOTooleMP becoming the new leader of the @CPC_HQ. https://t.co/RHF7U6uGrs pic.twitter.com/I84XDcAtcO
— Alex Ruff (@AlexRuff17) August 24, 2020