Scheer eager to unify Conservative party
Regina-Qu’Appelle MP’s leadership campaign focuses on ‘positive vision’
Called an out-of-touch elite by Kellie Leitch’s campaign manager, Andrew Scheer, MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle, says he just wants to focus on his Conservative leadership campaign and stay away from what he views as mud-slinging.
“I think our members want a positive vision. We won’t be mudslinging and we will have good debates on issues,” Scheer said prior to a rally at the Doubletree Hotel on Friday, his first in Regina since formally announcing his bid for the Conservative leadership. “I am going to keep it all to ideas, principles and issues.”
Scheer, who kicked off his campaign on Wednesday in Ottawa, states that he is a real conservative who supports fundamental conservative principles.
“I don’t think we need to reinvent ourselves and become Liberal-lite,” he said. “I am a unifer. I believe the Conservative party can only win if we stick together and focus on what we can agree on.”
Born and raised in Ottawa before moving to Saskatchewan to attend the University of Regina, Scheer feels that living in the East and the West will help him serve as a unifying force for the Conservative party.
“Fundamentally, the nice thing of the Conservative vision is that it is pan-Canadian and the message is pan-Canadian,” Scheer said. “I believe I can bridge the divide with roots in Ontario, but raising a family here in Regina. I can bridge those regions.”
In addition to his background in the East and West, Scheer states that his riding also gives him a unique perspective for Canadians.
“I represent an urban-rural riding. I represent a diverse group of constituents,” he said. “I can speak on farming and ranching, manufacturing and steel working. I have something from everything in my riding.”
Scheer also spoke about his pride in Saskatchewan, and the impact that the province is having across the nation.
“Saskatchewan is a dynamic province that has changed and grown so much and has a lot of attention on the national stage,” he said. “There is Saskatchewan in every province and our people have made this province great and other provinces great.”
One of the biggest challenges for whoever leads the Conservative party will be campaigning against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his popularity. Currently, Trudeau has an approval rating of 69 per cent. Scheer believes the popularity won’t last, and Canadians will soon tire of the celebrity status of Trudeau.
“I think the danger for Liberals is that if you are solely relying on the celebrity status of your leader, with no substance, you are vulnerable when decisions are made,” Scheer said. “I think in 2019, after years of deficits and the impact on the economy, Canadians will see past selfies and staged photo-ops and realize that it doesn’t pay the bills or get them jobs.”
Moving forward in his campaign, Scheer wants to continue to focus on connecting with Canadians and spreading what he describes as the positive vision of the Conservative party.
“What we stand for is what we believe in and what is better for Canada. What we need to do is to connect to people on a better level,” Scheer said. “We have a positive vision and we talk about what motivates us and that will resonate with Canadians. Taking our core values and principles and communicating them to reach a broader audience.”