Andrew Scheer

Early life and career

Scheer was born in Ottawa, Ontario, the son of Mary Gerarda Therese (Enright), a nurse, and James Scheer, a librarian and proofreader, who is a deacon of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa. He has two sisters. Part of his family is from Romania. Scheer graduated from Immaculata High School, and then studied history and politics at the University of Ottawa. While attending university, Scheer worked in the correspondence department of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition (OLO). He moved to Regina after meeting his future wife Jill Ryan at university and finished his BA at the University of Regina. Instead of returning to Ottawa, Scheer worked at Shenher Insurance before joining the constituency office of a Canadian Alliance MP, Larry Spencer in Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre.

First years in the House of Commons

Scheer was elected as a Conservative candidate in the federal election of 2004 in the riding of Regina—Qu'Appelle, beating New Democratic Party MP Lorne Nystrom by 861 votes. At the time Nystrom had been the longest-serving member of the House of Commons. Scheer was re-elected in the federal election of 2006, once again defeating Nystrom, this time by a margin of 2,740 votes.

In April 2006, during the 39th Canadian Parliament, Scheer was named as Assistant Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole, one of three deputy speakers and one of the youngest Members of Parliament to serve in that role in Commonwealth history. He sponsored one bill, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (motor vehicle theft) (Bill C-343), which would create minimum sentences for those convicted of motor vehicle theft.

On November 21, 2008, during the 40th Canadian Parliament, he was named Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Chairman of Committees of the Whole, succeeding New Democrat MP Bill Blaikie.

Speaker of the House of Commons

When the Conservative Party won a majority at the federal election in 2011, Scheer's experience as Deputy Speaker led many to consider him the front-runner to be elected Speaker of the House of Commons. On June 2, 2011, Scheer defeated Denise Savoie in the sixth round of balloting; he was also the last of five Conservative candidates, with Savoie the lone opposition candidate and the only woman. Scheer became the youngest House Speaker in Canadian history and the first speaker to represent a Saskatchewan riding.

Scheer was one of thirteen Canadians banned from travelling to Russia under retaliatory sanctions imposed by President Vladimir Putin in March 2014.

Opposition (second time)

Scheer was re-elected in the 2015 federal election that defeated the Conservative government. He was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons by Leader of the Official Opposition Rona Ambrose. On September 13, 2016, he announced his resignation outside a party caucus meeting in Halifax in order to explore a bid for the leadership of the federal Conservative Party.

2017 leadership election

On September 28, 2016, Scheer announced his bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party, and that he has the support of 32 members of the Conservative caucus. On May 27, 2017, Scheer was elected as the second full-time leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, beating runner up Maxime Bernier and more than 12 others with 50.95% of the vote through 13 rounds.

Political positions

Scheer's campaign for the Conservative Party of Canada leadership was run under the slogan: "Real conservative. Real leader." He avoided advocating the social conservative issues that some of the candidates championed, saying that he wanted to "reach a broader audience of Canadians." Positions he did take a strong stance on included scrapping the carbon tax and being "tough on crime". Scheer's views have led him to be described as a Blue Tory.

Carbon tax

Scheer has described his opposition to a federally-imposed carbon tax. He has said that if he is to form government, he will act to repeal any elements of a plan to implement a carbon tax enacted by the Trudeau government.

Freedom of speech

Scheer has promised that universities or colleges "that do not foster a culture of free speech and inquiry on campus" will not receive federal funding under his government.

Deficits

During the Conservative leadership race, Scheer stated that he would balance the federal budget within two years of forming government.

Gasoline country of origin labeling

Andrew Scheer proposed a policy to mandate the inclusion of national flag decals on gas pumps to highlight "Canadian-sourced, ethically produced oil."

Family support

Andrew Scheer says he wants to make maternity and parental leave less expensive for families. He has promised to make employment insurance for parental and maternity benefits tax-free. He wants to introduce tax credit to families who send their children to private schools. Scheer also proposes raising the limit on how much employment income a parent can earn each week while on leave.

Fiscal policy

Scheer has also vowed to remove HST/GST from home heating bills, lower business taxes and introduce a tax credit for parents whose kids go to private school or are home-schooled.

Social policy

Scheer is considered pro life by the Campaign Life Coalition and "has an impeccable pro life voting record" in the House of Commons. Scheer has said that he will respect the Conservative Party's official policy on abortion, which currently states, "A Conservative government will not support any legislation to regulate abortion". During the 2004 election campaign, Scheer opposed same-sex marriage, and as an individual MP, voted in favour of a 2006 motion to re-open debate on the issue. Scheer has stated that, as leader of the Conservative caucus - where there is no consensus on the issue - he will not try to reopen the debate on same-sex marriage. Scheer voted against Bill C-14, which allows practitioners to assist in the suicide of mentally competent adults with "enduring and intolerable suffering" in cases where death is "reasonably foreseeable."

Omar Khadr

Scheer has publicly denounced the Liberal government's decision to end its lawsuit with Omar Khadr for what was reported to be a $10.5 million settlement. Scheer argued that Khadr's compensation should have been limited to the right of repatriation, which Khadr had received in 2012.

Marijuana legalization

When asked about his stance on Canada's potential legalization of marijuana, he said though he is not in favour of the motion, "I am very realistic, and once it's legal in a short period of time there's going to be a lot of people that work for companies that distribute it... so we have to be very realistic as a party."

Refugees

Scheer wants to prioritize helping those he considers the most vulnerable refugees, namely religious minorities like Christians in the Middle East who face death for conversion away from Islam. He prefers to help refugees integrate through private sponsorship instead of government sponsorship. He contends that the refugees who are currently struggling to find housing, jobs and language training is because of the Liberal Party "using a devastating tragedy for political purposes".

Family

Scheer and his wife Jill have five children: Thomas, Grace, Madeline, Henry and Mary. Jill Scheer's younger brother is professional football player Jon Ryan. Another of Jill Scheer's brothers, Steve Ryan, ran for the Saskatchewan NDP in the 2007 and 2011 provincial elections. He and his family attend Sunday Mass at Canadian Martyrs or Good Samaritan parishes.

Electoral history

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the Canadian Alliance vote in 2000 election.