Conservative MP Kelly McCauley — who was one of 20 MPs to endorse Andrew Scheer in the early days of the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race — announced Thursday morning that he’s switching teams and has endorsed Erin O’Toole.

“The Conservative Party of Canada needs a strong, principled leader who has a depth of experience to get things done for Canadians. Erin O’Toole is that leader,” wrote McCauley in a statement.

“Erin had a successful career before politics as a Captain in the RCAF, a lawyer and one of the founders of the True Patriot Love military family charity.”

McCauley calls O’Toole “a proven collaborator and a sound fiscal conservative with strong policy ideas” and cites his plan to designate pipelines as nationally strategic projects as evidence of his “understanding and commitment to ending the jobs crisis in Alberta.”

“I respect Erin for his service to our country and am pleased to join his team to beat the Liberals in 2019.”

McCauley’s spokesperson Stephanie Henderson told iPolitics in an email, “Kelly is busy in the riding today doing his job, meeting with constituents and helping with the real issue of the day which is the Alberta jobs crisis.”

Scheer’s campaign offered no comment.

Conservative MP and ethics critic Blaine Calkins announced his support for O’Toole Thursday morning.

Calkins says in a release it’s important to him that the Conservative party has a leader “who understands how to build the best team from across Canada to champion our economy and bring jobs back to our country.

“Erin O’Toole is that leader. He is a natural team builder who brings his military and private sector experience into everything he does. His positive approach, and his encouragement of all caucus members to share their diversity of opinions, will help strengthen the Conservative Party to be able to beat Trudeau in 2019.”