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Photo from the Chris Warkentin Facebook page
By Emily Keller
positions named

GP-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin named to new leadership position

Dec 2, 2019 | 8:46 AM

The MP for Grande Prairie-Mackenzie, Chris Warkentin, has recently undergone a position change within the Conservative Party to the Caucus-Opposition Leader’s Office Co-ordinator.

The new position means Warkentin will communicate and coordinate with other opposition parties on legislation.

Warkentin was named to this position on November 28, when Andrew Scheer also named former Liberal MP turned Conservative Leona Alleslev as the new Deputy Leader.

Warkentin says with the recent Liberal minority win, he feels this is an important opportunity to create change.

“There are more Conservative MP’s than any other opposition has ever seen. But of course, in a minority government, everything changes. We really do have the strength and the ability to move significant things in parliament if we can coordinate with the other opposition parties.”

The announcements come at a time where there are rumblings of dissatisfaction with Scheer’s leadership within the party and uncertainty surrounding his future.

Despite this, Warkentin says he stands behind Scheer as party leader, and that now is the time when Conservatives need to band together the most.

“What Justin Trudeau wants more than anything is a divided Conservative party because he knows that’s the only time that Liberals get a free ride.”

“We may be into an election within the next number of months, depending on the issues that come forward to Parliament. It could be a lot sooner than anybody expects and quite frankly, the last thing we want to be is in a position where our party is divided.”

Warkentin had previously served as the Deputy House Leader since September of 2016.

by Emily Keller