By Alex McCuaig

Scheer resigns

Scheer resigns but still has support among some Medicine Hat Conservatives

Dec 12, 2019 | 5:33 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – The writing appeared to be on the wall for the future of Andrew Scheer as Conservative Party Leader but that didn’t take away from the surprise of his announcement on Thursday morning.

Local Conservatives were reticent to publicly call for the Saskatchewan MP to step down. And those who did speak on the record were steadfast in their support for Scheer, pointing out he was the only Conservative leadership candidate to visit the city in the lead up to the 2017 vote.

Speaking from Ottawa, Medicine Hat MP Glen Motz spoke highly of Scheer, saying while he lamented the Conservative Leader’s choice, he respected the reasons for making the call to step down.

“He recognizes that there may be some challenges if he remains in the position he`s in for us to win in the next election,“ said Motz. “Any time a leader is self-reflective and able to come to those decisions on his own and for the good of a party – it`s not about him, it`s never been about him – I give him 100 per cent kudos for that. It shows the strength of his character.“

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Dan Hein, president of the Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner constituency association, said he thought Scheer was on the right track but internal politics likely played a part with the party leader`s decision to step down.

“We could see there was a lot of bull-dogging against him over the last several weeks,“ said Hein. “It looked like a lot of people were trying to push him out. I`m disappointed to see the result. I think Andrew did a great job for the party.“

UCP MLA Drew Barnes was slightly less forgiving in his assessment of Scheer.

“The fact the Conservatives didn`t win – the fact Andrew Scheer didn`t win – is a clear signal from fiscally conservative Canadians that it`s time to focus on free enterprise. It`s time to let free enterprise communities and families grow the economy.“

As for the next federal leader, none of the local Conservatives had specific thoughts on who might be the next party leader. Nor did they believe a candidate from either Alberta or Saskatchewan should be precluded from running.

The current incarnation of the Conservative Party has only had two leaders, Stephen Harper and Andrew Scheer.