CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA

LEADER ANDREW SCHEER FOUNDED 2003 SITTING MPS 96

When the Conservative Party held their leadership convention in 2017, Andrew Scheer was not the anointed leader. In fact, it took a whopping 13 ballots for him to finally emerge as the surprise choice to take over from Stephen Harper. At the time, he promised to unite all the bickering elements of the party – social, fiscal, progressives, libertarian and right-wing conservatives – into one team to face off against the Liberals.

His job was made easier when the libertarian element departed to follow Maxime Bernier and his People’s Party. And Scheer has worked hard to dispel the notion that his party is full of right-wing extremists, saying in a speech that any member who supports discrimination based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, “There’s the door. You are not welcome here.” A practising Catholic, Scheer promises he will not bring his personal views to bear on women’s and gay rights issues, something the other parties will try to catch him out on.

Benefiting from the SNC-Lavalin scandal, an Angus Reid poll in June suggested his Conservatives had 37 per cent of support from decided and leaning voters, an 11-point lead over the Liberals.

THE ECONOMY

Critics suggest that Scheer’s economic policy mimics the laissez-faire style employed by Harper. Besides being an unabashed pipeline supporter, Scheer has repeatedly said he favours less government, lower taxes and wants to give the freedom to individuals and businesses to determine their own fate.

Will Scheer struggle to match the charisma of the other leaders?