New Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leader Erin O'Toole yesterday (September 2) named the nine people he's chosen to serve on the Conservative's House Leadership Team and the MP for Banff-Airdrie has been handed an important role.    

Blake Richards has been named the Official Opposition Whip. Richards calls the appointment a huge honour, and a huge opportunity.

"It'll give me the chance to serve our country, our party and our leader but, more importantly, my constituents and Albertans by being a strong voice at that leadership table for our province and for the concerns of our residents."

When asked what the role entails, Richards compared it to the military.  "I guess similar to kinda like a drill sergeant in the military or something along those lines.  Just to make sure that everybody is where they need to be when they need to be there and lined up to do the best job that we can do to be a strong opposition to the Trudeau government."

The official definition of a whip is someone who is tasked to ensure partly disciple in the house, including making sure that party members vote according to the party platform, rather than according to their individual ideologies.  Whips are said to be "enforcers" for the party, something Richards says he is prepared to be.

"I think the personality I have is, I'm pretty easy to get along with but, at the same time, when I need to be firm, I can be firm with people.  That's a good set of qualities for someone in a leadership role so I suspect that is the reason the choice was made."

Richards was first elected in 2008 and has been serving in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet as the Minister of Democratic Institutions and Tourism.  He's been named three times as Canada's Best Constituency MP as well as Hardest Working MP.  

Along with Richards, O'Toole named Manitoba MP Candice Bergen as the new Deputy Leader, Richard Martel, as the Quebec Lieutenant, Gerard Deltell as House Leader, Karen Vecchio as Deputy House Leader, Alex Ruff as Deputy Whip, Tim Uppal as Caucus-Party Liasion, Tom Kmiec as National Caucus Chair and Eric Duncan as Question Period Coordinator.  Three of the nine, Richards, Uppal, and Kmiec are Albertans.  

Richards is excited about the team that he'll be working with.  "It's a good strong set of representatives, some people having great experience, including having served in cabinet in government to some of the really strong new performers who are new to our caucus and representation from right across the country.  I think it's a good balance of people."