Erin O'Toole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erin O'Toole
PC CD
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O'Toole in 2021
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| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office August 24, 2020 – February 2, 2022 |
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| Monarch | |
| Deputy | Candice Bergen |
| Preceded by | Andrew Scheer |
| Succeeded by | Candice Bergen |
| Leader of the Conservative Party | |
| In office August 24, 2020 – February 2, 2022 |
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| Deputy | Candice Bergen |
| Preceded by | Andrew Scheer |
| Succeeded by | Candice Bergen (interim) |
| Minister of Veterans Affairs | |
| In office January 5, 2015 – November 4, 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Stephen Harper |
| Preceded by | Julian Fantino |
| Succeeded by | Kent Hehr |
| Member of Parliament for Durham |
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| In office November 26, 2012 – August 1, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Bev Oda |
| Succeeded by | Jamil Jivani |
| Shadow cabinet posts | |
| 2020–2021 | Shadow Minister for Middle Class Prosperity |
| 2017–2020 | Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Erin Michael O'Toole
January 22, 1973 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Rebecca Grant
(m. 2000) |
| Children | 2 |
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| Profession |
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| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Air Command |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron |
| Awards | Canadian Forces' Decoration Sikorsky Helicopter Rescue Award |
Erin Michael O'Toole (born January 22, 1973) is a Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Durham from 2012 to 2023. An MP is someone elected to represent a specific area in the Canadian Parliament.
O'Toole was also the leader of the Conservative Party. This meant he was the head of one of Canada's main political parties. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the Leader of the Official Opposition. This is the leader of the second-largest party in Parliament.
Erin O'Toole was born in Montreal, Quebec. He grew up in Port Perry and Bowmanville, Ontario. In 1991, he joined the Canadian military. He studied at the Royal Military College until 1995. He became an officer in the Air Force. He worked as an air navigator and became a captain.
After his military service, he became a lawyer. He worked as a lawyer for almost ten years. In 2012, he was elected to the House of Commons in a special election called a by-election. In 2015, he briefly served as the Minister of Veterans Affairs. This role helps people who have served in the military.
In 2017, O'Toole tried to become the leader of the Conservative Party. He finished third in that election. In 2020, he ran again and won. He became the party leader. He focused on appealing to working-class Canadians. In the 2021 federal election, his party lost, but he won his own seat in Durham. He wanted to stay on as leader, but in February 2022, Conservative MPs voted to remove him from the leadership.
O'Toole is seen as a moderate member of his party. On Canadian issues, he supported reducing the government's debt. He also wanted to simplify taxes and build more pipelines. For foreign policy, he supported closer ties with countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. He also believed in a strong approach towards the Chinese government.
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Early Life and Education
Erin O'Toole was born in Montreal, Quebec, on January 22, 1973. His mother was Mollie Hall, and his father was John O'Toole. His father was also a politician. He served as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Ontario.
Erin's father was of Irish background. His mother was born in London, England, and moved to Canada after World War II. When Erin was nine, his mother passed away. His family then moved to Port Perry, Ontario. He went to elementary school there. Later, his family moved to Bowmanville, Ontario, where he finished high school.
In 1991, O'Toole joined the military. He enrolled at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. He studied history and political science. In 1995, he graduated with an honours degree.
Military Career
After graduating, O'Toole became an officer in the Canadian Air Force. His first job was in Trenton, Ontario. He helped with search and rescue missions there. He also trained as an air navigator in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
In 1997, O'Toole moved to Shearwater, Nova Scotia. He flew as a navigator on a CH-124 (Sea King) helicopter. He helped with maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and naval support. He was promoted to captain. He also received an award for rescuing an injured fisherman at sea.
In 2000, O'Toole finished his active military service. He then joined the reserves. He worked as a training officer, running flight simulators. At the same time, he went to law school. He received the Canadian Forces' Decoration for his 12 years of service to Canada.
Legal Career
O'Toole earned his law degree from Dalhousie University in 2003. He then returned to Ontario. He worked as a lawyer at a business law firm in Toronto. He mainly worked on cases about product safety and business law.
From 2006 to 2011, O'Toole worked for Procter & Gamble. He gave legal advice on business and rules. He also helped investigate fake products. In 2011, O'Toole joined another law firm. He worked as a registered lobbyist for Facebook, Inc.. A lobbyist tries to influence government decisions on behalf of a company or group.
Political Views
Erin O'Toole is often described as a moderate within the Conservative Party. This means his views are not extreme.
Domestic Policy
On issues within Canada, O'Toole supported several ideas.
- He wanted to slowly reduce the government's debt. A deficit means the government spends more money than it collects.
- He aimed to make federal taxes simpler.
- He supported a system for a low carbon savings account. This is a way to encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint.
- He also supported building more pipelines. Pipelines are used to transport oil and gas.
Foreign Policy
On international issues, O'Toole had clear stances.
- He supported a CANZUK agreement. This is an idea for closer ties between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
- He believed in a firm approach to the Chinese government. He saw China as acting unfairly on the world stage.
Social Issues
O'Toole's voting record on social issues is generally seen as socially progressive. This means he often supported policies that promote individual freedoms and social equality.
See also
In Spanish: Erin O'Toole para niños
