Former Conservative leader alleges Chinese interference may have played a part in his ouster

Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole believes foreign interference may have led to his removal as party leader, according to documents tabled before the foreign interference inquiry.

In a document containing notes from an interview between O'Toole and lawyers acting for the Foreign Interference Commission earlier this year, O'Toole is quoted as saying he was suspicious about the motives of the person behind the petition that called for a leadership review following the 2021 election.

«Mr. O'Toole also believes foreign interference played a role in his ouster as party leader,» says the document. «In the immediate aftermath of the election loss, a petition and public relations campaign against Mr. O'Toole was initiated within 48 hours by a high-profile CPC party member who had served on the national council of the party.»

That Conservative Party member was Bert Chen, who was suspended from the party's national council after launching the petition to recall O'Toole as leader.

«A trusted source in a diaspora group and a journalist have advised Mr. O'Toole in confidence that this specific party member had unusual ties to the [People's Republic of China] government. Mr. O'Toole has no information to corroborate these claims, but he trusts the sources,» the document says.

«This information was brought to his attention after he had already lost the party leadership.»

O'Toole's Conservative Party lost the 2021 election, winning 119 of 338 seats, despite winning the popular vote.

Chen's petition did not lead to O'Toole stepping down as party leader. He was forced to leave the job in February 2022 following an internal caucus revolt.

«Certain things in my report were told to me by people,» O'Toole told host David Cochrane on Wednesday.