The next few years will be an important time for the federal Conservatives, particularly between the resignation of Stephen Harper as Leader and finding a replacement. That from Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Bergen who is one of four candidates vying for that interim leadership spot. With the Conservatives reduced to Official Opposition status, Bergen says Canadians are looking for a different tone and a fresh face to lead the party.

"I have a lot of good experience in Question Period as well as with the media, I don't shy away from debate, but I'm able to do it in a reasonable and fair way and I think that I've been able to display that in Question Period and in the media."

Bergen is the fourth person to put their name up in the interim leadership race, joining fellow MPs; Diane Finley, Rob Nicholson and Erin O'Toole, and feels it's fantastic that so many people are interested in the job.

"I think it shows the optimism and the excitement around what we're doing and where we're going as we move forward."

When asked if this move was an effort to test the waters of entering the bigger race down the road and replacing Stephen Harper, Bergen said the rules state that in interim leader cannot run for full leadership.

"Right now my focus is definitely on interim leader and that's what I'd like to do in this time period."

During this interim period, Bergen feels it is important for her party to assure Canadians that it is still very much Conservative.

Bergen adds it's also important to bring the Conservative caucus together, noting there are about thirty-five new Conservative MPs that need to be united with the current members of Parliament, forming a strong opposition that will hold Justin Trudeau and the governing Liberals to account.

"They have made a lot of very broad and sweeping promises and I think for a lot of Canadians there's concern about what those promises could mean for our country. And so our job as Opposition is to ask those questions, but to ask them in a way that's fresh, that's new, that's reasonable and fair."

Bergen feels this batch of new MPs will allow the party to plan good, strong strategies going forward and notes the ultimate goal is that the Conservative caucus is passed on to a new leader strong and united.

An interim leader will be selected November 5th, next week Thursday. Until then, Bergen plans to continue connecting with her colleagues on Parliament Hill as they are the one that will decide who gets the job.