15.15°C Vancouver

Aug 12, 2020 3:34 PM -

Andrew Scheer likely marking last day in House of Commons as Opposition leader

Share On
andrew-scheer-likely-marking-last-day-in-house-of-commons-as-opposition-leader
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Today's sitting of Parliament is expected to be the last one that will see Andrew Scheer in the role of Conservative leader.

In addition to being an MP from Regina since 2004, he also served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 2011 to 2015.

It was after the Tories lost government in 2015, and the subsequent resignation of then-leader Stephen Harper, that Scheer decided to go for the leadership job.

He won in 2017, eking out a very narrow victory over fellow MP Maxime Bernier.

He spent the next two years trying to gain recognition across the country, while shoring up the party's war chest and policy playbook in order to defeat the Liberal government in the Oct. 2019 election.

But despite the Liberals struggling with several scandals that reduced them to a minority, he failed to outright bring them down.

But the knives came out for Scheer almost immediately after election day.

Among the jabs: party insiders leaked an internal argument over Scheer using party funds to pay for his kids' private religious schooling, a fact unknown to many of the party's executives.

The vote for the Conservative leader is taking place by mail, and all ballots must be back by Aug. 21.

A winner is expected to be announced within days, and very likely before the next sitting of the Commons on Aug. 26.

Latest news

AlbertaSep 17, 2026

Alberta Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Sexual Assaults on Vulnerable Women

An Alberta man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against vulnerable women at a rural property near Calgary. Richard Robert Mantha, 62, was convicted of six offences, including drugging one of his victims, in incidents that occurred between 2019 and 2023. He was also found guilty of uttering threats against another woman. The court heard that most of the victims worked in the sex trade. Justice Judith Shriar said Mantha showed “callous disrespect” when he laughed as one terrified victim fled his rural property, fearing for her life. Mantha received cre
maninder-sidhu-to-lead-trade-talks-in-india-philippines
BCSep 17, 2026

Maninder Sidhu to Lead Trade Talks in India, Philippines

Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, is travelling to India and the Philippines this week to advance new trade agreements and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses. During his visit to India, Sidhu will lead high-level trade discussions focused on opening new opportunities for Canadian aerospace, artificial intelligence, clean energy and critical minerals sectors. He is also expected to meet with leading Indian business leaders and investors and encourage them to invest in Canada. Sidhu said another key objective of the trip is to advance free trade agreement
60-year-old-man-arrested-after-fleeing-scene-following-multiple-vehicle-collisions-in-vancouver
BCSep 17, 2026

60-Year-Old Man Arrested After Fleeing Scene Following Multiple Vehicle Collisions in Vancouver

A 60-year-old man has been arrested by Vancouver police for allegedly crashing into multiple vehicles and fleeing the scene. According to police, the incidents occurred around 9 a.m. Tuesday in southeast Vancouver, near East 49th Avenue and Elliott Street. Officers said people were inside the vehicles when they were struck. Police said several vehicles were damaged, but no injuries were reported. After the collisions, the suspect allegedly abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Police later arrested the suspect, identified as Wayne Tran. He is facing charges related to dangerous dri
calls-for-kerry-lynne-findlays-resignation-as-internal-tensions-rise-in-b-c-conservatives
BCSep 17, 2026

Calls for Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s Resignation as Internal Tensions Rise in B.C. Conservatives

B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay has reportedly faced calls to resign amid growing internal turmoil within the party. An emergency caucus meeting was held in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday night, where at least two sitting MLAs reportedly questioned Findlay’s leadership and asked her to step down immediately. According to reports, the meeting was tense and ended at around 11:30 p.m. Findlay did not agree to step down and remains leader of the party. The latest development comes after nine MLAs left the B.C. Conservative caucus since Findlay took over as leader in May. The party
IndiaSep 17, 2026

Farmers’ ‘Rail Roko’ Protest Disrupts Train Services Across Punjab

The ‘Rail Roko’ protest launched by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha across Punjab on Thursday significantly disrupted rail services. Farmers blocked railway tracks at several locations over their various demands. At Devidaspura near Jandiala Guru in Amritsar, farmers staged a protest on the railway tracks, affecting the Amritsar-Delhi rail route. Several trains were diverted, while some services were cancelled. The protest was held at five locations in Punjab-Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Moga, Ferozepur and Sangrur. The farmers’ organisations are demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (M

Related News