OTTAWA – Rona Ambrose is promising that the Conservative caucus will be the strongest official Opposition Canadians have ever seen, and will serve as the dominant voice for taxpayers in Ottawa.
The interim Conservative leader made the remarks in a speech to MPs and senators gathered for the weekly caucus meeting — former prime minister Stephen Harper was not among them.
Ambrose said the role of Conservative MPs will be to hold the Liberals to account as the government plans to increase spending and run deficits in order to stimulate the economy.
She added that the Conservatives will also continue to push for Canada to maintain its bombing mission in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said Canada will withdraw its fighter planes from the region, and will offer assistance to the fight in another form that best fits Canadian expertise and resources.
Ambrose said that Conservatives will remind the government that protecting human rights and standing with international allies also means taking concrete action when necessary.