Erin O’Toole says he will work with Liberals, is ready if fall election is triggered

Newly elected Conservative leader Erin O’Toole says he wants to work with the Liberal government to bring effective leadership to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But O’Toole says his party will be ready if the Trudeau government tries to force a fall election.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since winning the Conservative party’s leadership race, O’Toole wouldn’t say whether he would support the Liberal’s speech from the throne.

The speech is set for Sept. 23 and will lay out the government’s post-pandemic plan and will be followed by a confidence vote.

• Poll suggests Liberals appear in good shape to fight fall election

He told reporters he had spoken with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday.

The new Conservative leader says he told Trudeau he wants the government to address western alienation in its throne speech.