Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar Candice Bergen is continuing her role as Deputy Leader in Ottawa.

She outlines how she once again was reinstated for the position.

"The leader has put together his leadership team and his shadow cabinet, and he has asked me to be the deputy leader of the Conservative Party," says Bergen. "So, I'm obviously very happy to be able to continue in that role. It's a lot of responsibility, and it's a lot of esteem which I appreciate. But I'm very focused on doing some hard work for the people of Canada for the party, for the leader, and most of all, for the people of Portage-Lisgar, which remains my primary focus."

She explains this is her fifth term as Member of Parliament and her second term as Deputy Leader.

"I've been the Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar for 13 years and now I've been Deputy Leader for two years," continues Bergen. "When there's a new leader and a new parliament, it comes around."

Candice Bergen with her husband, Michael, by her side and group gathered for the occasion

Bergen notes they're heading into a new parliament.

"We go back to Ottawa next week," adds Bergen. "We'll have caucus meetings and then Parliament starts on the 22nd of November. There are a number of issues that are very important nationally, and then some that are very important here in Portage-Lisgar. There are issues around inflation, issues around supply chains -- big problems there. And then we are still looking at ways where we can reduce the vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, especially in the southern part of the riding."

She says she's aware of the concerns of some people over the vaccine, and wants to assist them so their fears would be lessened, and for those who might want the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

"We'd like to see them helped, so, certainly, issues around the economy around helping small businesses are there as well," continues Bergen. "But we want to get past COVID and get our communities united again. There's a lot of division, and so I'd like to really focus on on doing work on that."