Erin O’Toole in conversation with Paul Wells: Maclean’s Live

If 20 seats had gone the other way in last year’s federal election, the Conservatives would have more seats than the Liberals. Now it’s Erin O’Toole’s job to get the Conservatives over the top in an election that may come at any time. What’s his plan? The new Conservative leader joined Paul Wells for an in-depth discussion that covered a lot of ground. They spoke about O’Toole’s broad conservative vision; how he’ll put together the party’s next platform; why he’s making a direct appeal to union members and how that jibes with his party’s fractious history with the labour movement; where he thinks the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic went wrong, which provinces are getting it right, and who he consults on health policy; why he opposes Quebec’s controversial Bill 21 but doesn’t promise to stop it; and, of course, how he intends to fight the next election as head of a party that’s had many more failed leaders than prime ministers.

The conversation was first broadcast on the Maclean’s Facebook page as well as at macleans.ca/live on Nov. 17. Follow us on Facebook to be notified of future #MacleansLive conversations.

Presented by the Canadian Bankers Association in partnership with the NAC.

Past guests include:

November 2020:Annamie Paul, Leader of the Green Party of CanadaOctober 2020: EJ Dionne Jr., Maryscott “Scotty” Greenwood, Eugene Daniels and Carlos LozadaOctober 2020:Investigative journalist Justin Ling on serial killer Bruce McArthurSeptember 2020:Federal environment minister Jonathan WilkinsonJuly 2020:Dr. Catherine Hankins and Dr. David Naylor, members of the COVID-19 Immunity Task ForceJune 2020:Kevin Loring, playwright, actor, director of Indigenous Theatre at the NACJune 2020:Guest host Desmond Cole with panelists Esi Edugyan, Robyn Maynard, Syrus Marcus Ware and Ian WilliamsJune 2020: Carol Anderson and Kevin YoungJune 2020:Parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux & Information Commissioner Caroline MaynardMay 2020:Health minister Patty HajduMay 2020: Alberta Premier Jason KenneyApril 2019:Bank of Canada governor, Stephen PolozFebruary 2019:Canadian ambassador to the U.S., David MacNaughtonDecember 2018:Former prime minister Jean ChrétienNovember 2018: Alberta Premier Rachel NotleySeptember 2018: Prime Minister Justin TrudeauJune 2018: Jane Philpott, former minister of Indigenous services.May 2018:Jason Kenney, leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party (current Premier of Alberta)April 2018: Katie Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin TrudeauMarch 2018: Conservative leader Andrew ScheerFebruary 2018: NDP leader Jagmeet Singh