Scheer’s future on the table at Tories’ first post-election caucus meeting

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OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Tensions were running high as Conservative MPs gathered on Parliament Hill Wednesday for their first post-election caucus meeting. Andrew Scheer’s leadership was likely a big topic of discussion, and he was expected to take some ownership of his failure to land a majority government last month.

“I think we have a great leader, he has my full confidence,” was the message from MP David Sweet as he walked into the caucus room, echoing many others. But some refused to comment.

One of the first orders of business for the gathered MPs was to decide whether or not the caucus wants to grant itself the power to replace its own leader.

Alex Boutilier with the Toronto Star says if the Tories do take that route, MPs could act swiftly to decide Scheer’s fate, or keep that option in their back pocket.

“Really put Andrew Scheer on notice that, at any point, if things don’t change, he can face a challenge from within,” Boutilier says.

He adds there are many frustrated MPs and insiders, some who are actively working to take Scheer out, although it’s not clear if they have the numbers to pull that off. Even before election day, some Conservatives were already talking about a replacement.

“A lot of my constituents expressed concern about the leader,” Calgary Signal Hill MP Ron Liepert said on his way into the meeting on Wednesday. “They continue to express concern in communication with my office.”

A new poll from the Angus Reid Institute finds Conservative voters are evenly split over whether Scheer should stay or go, and there has been open debate on social media.

But University of Ottawa professor Gevenieve Tellier says the Conservative Party’s failings don’t lay at the feet of Scheer alone.

“For me, the biggest challenge for the Conservative Party is what do they want? And I don’t think it’s only a question of leadership, it’s a question of ideas or vision – where they want to go,” she says.

“Surely there are going to be some questions asked, and I think it’s important also for Andrew Scheer to explain. I don’t think he must wait for the question to come up, but he should take the leadership of explaining what happened during the election.”


While they didn’t secure the majority they wanted, the Conservatives did nab a historic victory last month in the popular vote, securing the most support they’ve had since the party came into being in 2004.

They came out of the election with 121 seats, about two dozen more than they held before.

University of Prince Edward Island political science professor Peter McKenna agrees that the leader will face some serious questions. He says despite the gains made, many Conservatives may not want to gamble on going into another campaign with Scheer leading the way.

“People have to be asking themselves – would it be any different next time? Given the fact that everything seemed to be working in our favour this time.”

Scheer will face a mandatory leadership review at the party convention in April.

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