The Conservative Party of Canada announced today that Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Bergen is now the Deputy Leader for the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition.

Bergen shares what the announcement means to her.

"I'm very honoured and humbled that Erin O'Toole, our new leader, has appointed me as his Deputy Leader," says Bergen. "I'm excited. I've been working with Erin for eight years now, both in government and in opposition. I'm very, very happy that he is our leader and that he's asked me to play this role."

She notes she spoke to O'Toole Wednesday when the announcement was made about issues around Western alienation, around the unity of this country, and she notes he asked her to play a major role in making sure that Westerners are heard and that their concerns are addressed in a very serious way. Bergen adds that has been sorely lacking in this current government.

"So, I'm excited," continues Bergen. "I'm honoured. I'm ready to get to work on behalf of Conservatives, and more importantly, on behalf of all Canadians."

She explains the difference between her role as House Leader and Deputy Leader basically involves a broader range of responsibilities. As House Leader, she says she was primarily in Ottawa in the House of Commons. She notes she coordinated all of their efforts in the Chamber.

"So, whether it was question period, opposition days, the different procedural tools that we have available, I coordinated them and I led the effort," says Bergen. "Deputy Leader is a much broader role. So, I'm right-hand to the Leader working across the country, working on issues like attracting more women; working on issues, as I said, like Western alienation -- helping just to bring Canadians and Conservatives together, and really spreading our message."

Bergen says the most important part of her new position involves providing leadership to their party to their caucus. She explains it shows that the leader has a lot of faith in her, and faith in her abilities.

"I've worked hard my entire life, whether it was as a Member of Parliament or even before that when I was working in the private sector or as a mom," adds Bergen. "You know, I'm like a lot of Canadian women and Canadian people. We work hard and it feels gratifying to earn this position. And I just want to keep working hard. I'm concerned about the country."

She explains she's very concerned about the direction that Canada is going. Bergen notes she's concerned about Prime Minister Trudeau's approach to the pandemic, and feels that we're going to have a lot of challenges ahead.

"So, as Conservatives, too, we're going to have to show Canadians that we can come out of this crisis and that Canadians can be ahead, and that Canadians can be financially secure, and have support that they need," adds Bergen. "That's really what I'm focused on."

Gérard Deltell, a Member of Parliament from Quebec, is going to be taking over as the Conservative House Leader, and Bergen has full confidence that he'll do a fantastic job.