By Andrew Scheer MP
OTTAWA – POLITICS – I am writing to inform you that I have resigned as the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
This was not a decision I came to lightly. It took many long, hard conversations with friends and family over the past two months.
Serving as leader of the party that I love so much has been the opportunity and challenge of a lifetime.
This has been an incredible challenge for our family to keep up with the pace that is required to lead a party and a caucus into a general election.
My wife Jill has been absolutely heroic, but in order to chart the course ahead, this party, this movement, needs someone who can give 100 percent to the effort.
And after some conversations with my kids, and my loved ones, I felt it was time to put my family first.
I’ve asked the Conservative Party National Council to immediately begin the process of organizing a leadership election.
As our party embarks on this exciting opportunity, electing a new Conservative leader – Canada’s next Prime Minister – I will stay on as leader of the party and the Official Opposition.
As our party begins to embark on this exciting opportunity, electing a new leader, my only ask to my fellow Conservatives is this: we must stay united.
Our Conservative team is always stronger when we are united.
When fiscal conservatives, red Tories, social conservatives, libertarians, Quebec nationalists, conservatives in rural Canada and urban Canada, and east and west come together, great things happen.
Only by staying united can we deliver a strong Conservative majority government that can unite our country and make life better for all Canadians, for the oil worker out of a job, for the senior who is choosing between heating and eating, and for Canada’s position on the world stage.
I believe in this party. I believe in our movement. I believe that we will be the government after the next election.
I got involved as a teen because I love this party. I ran because I love this party. And I ran for leader because I wanted to help this party. I will continue to serve my Conservative caucus. I will continue to serve the great people in the fantastic riding of Regina—Qu’Appelle.
I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished during my time as leader. We kept our party united and strong. We knocked the Liberals down to a minority. We increased seats all over this country.
Whoever the hundreds of thousands of Conservatives across this country choose to lead our party into the next election, that person will have my 100 percent support.
And my message to the Prime Minister and the Liberals in this House is this: During this leadership election, there will be no free rides in the House of Commons.
We’ve already hit the ground running. And we are going to continue to be here every single day to represent our constituents, perform our duties as parliamentarians to put Canadians and Canada first.
Again, thank you for your support, encouragement, and trust over these past two years. It has meant the world to me and my family.
Sincerely,
Andrew Scheer
Leader of Canada’s Conservatives
