Outgoing Conservative Party of Canada Leader Andrew Scheer. (file photo/CKOM)

By Angela Brown

Conservative leadership

Falk and other local politicians look to future following Scheer’s resignation

Dec 16, 2019 | 4:02 PM

Area politicians, party members and those with an interest in the local economy have a range of ideas about what they would like to see in the next federal Conservative Party of Canada leader now that current Leader Andrew Scheer has announced his resignation.

Battlefords-Lloydminster Conservative MP Rosemarie Falk, Liberal Party member and former candidate Larry Ingram, and local riding NDP executive member Robert Feist offered their insights on the issue, as well as Battlefords Chamber of Commerce chair Dallan Oberg.

Falk said she was sorry to hear of Scheer’s decision to resign and commended him for all his work for the party.

“It took caucus by surprise since we were unified and supported our leader,” she said. “At the end of the day, the membership will decide going forward who that leader will be of our party.”

The MP said Scheer will stay on in his position until a new leader is in place. She added the 2020 Conservative Convention will be in Toronto in April so the party will likely keep that in mind when making decisions on timelines to fill the position.

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“We are a grassroots party, so this will be decided by the membership of the party,” Falk said.

She said she hopes the next leader continues to draw the party together.

“I think it’s very soon to say. The party hasn’t struck the leadership committee yet to do a leadership race, but I’m hoping we have a leader with integrity, a leader who will continue to fight against the Trudeau Liberals right now, and champion our Conservative vision for Canada,” she said.

Ingram who was a Liberal candidate in the last federal election in the riding said he would like to see the next Conservative leader to come from a rural area who can speak on behalf of rural interests.

In offering his opinion, Feist said Scheer’s beliefs on social issues haven’t put him in good stead so he believes it would be in the Conservatives’ best interest to find someone who is more moderate.

“I think that Mr. Scheer’s personal views on social issues, things like abortion and gay marriage, really did hurt him during the campaign,” he said.

Feist added he expects the Conservatives will seek a leader from Eastern Canada to replace Scheer.

“Scheer’s stand on the carbon tax and rebate program, I think hurt him badly in the biggest provinces, in Quebec, Ontario and B.C.,” he said. “Those provinces clearly want a carbon tax and rebate program. I think the Tories are realizing they are going to keep losing elections if they fight on that ground. So I expect Conservatives are going to seek an Eastern [Canada] leader – someone who is going to look to accept that carbon tax and rebate system is here to stay.”

From the local chamber, Dallan Oberg hopes the next federal Conservative Party of Canada leader will keep business interests a high priority.

“All we care about is that we have a leader that looks forward and helps small business in the country,” he said, adding the economy in the West is hurting, so “we want to see someone who will look after and help out the West and small business in Canada as it is a big driving force in our economy.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow