The Conservative Party will be looking for a new leader soon.
Andrew Scheer has decided to resign after his party's election loss and growing internal division within the Conservatives.
Scheer called a special caucus meeting Thursday morning, where he announced his intentions to members. He then rose in the House of Commons to announce his intention to resign, stating publicly it was for family reasons.This was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. I have announced my intention to step down as the Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada once a new Leader is elected. I am putting my party first and my family first. WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/BEjBQ7DI3d
— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) December 12, 2019
"In order to chart the course ahead, this party needs a leader who can give 100 per cent to this effort," said Scheer as reported by The Globe and Mail. "So after a conversation with my kids, my loved ones, I felt it was time to put my family first."
However, Global News has reported that its sources have said Scheer's decision to resign has come in the wake of allegations he used party funds to pay for his kids' private school tuition.
While Scheer has not commented on the report, Dustin van Vugt, the executive director of the Conservative Party, issued a statement to media which called the payments "normal practice for political parties."
"The party offered to reimburse some of the costs associated with being a national leader and re-locating the family to Ottawa," van Vugt said in the statement. "Shortly after Mr. Scheer was elected leader, we had a meeting where I made a standard offer to cover costs associated with moving his family from Regina to Ottawa. This includes a differential in schooling costs between Regina and Ottawa. All proper procedures were followed and signed off on by the appropriate people.”
According to reports, Scheer, 40, has offered to stay on until a new leader is chosen, but the party's constitution reads that it is up to the caucus.
The Conservative Party's next biennial convention takes place in April 2020 in Toronto, though Scheer has asked the Tory leadership to immediately begin organizing a convention to name a new leader.
Scheer had been named the federal Conservative leader in May 2017, and immediately became the Leader of the Official Opposition. Despite the failed 2019 election campaign, the Tories gained 22 seats in the House of Commons and beat the Liberals in the popular vote. However, there had been concern among those in the party about the way the campaign was run.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a statement via Twitter reacting to the resignation.
"I wish Andrew Scheer all the best as he undertakes this new chapter in his life, and thank him for his service as the head of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and leader of the Conservative Party," said Ford.
