Friday, December 26, 2025
ADVT 
National

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Oct, 2020 10:17 PM
  • Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

Former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, whose dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship became an issue in last year's federal election, won't be casting a ballot in the upcoming American vote.

Scheer had been in the process of renouncing his U.S. citizenship ahead of the 2019 fall campaign.

But he ended that process after his party failed to form government and he subsequently stepped down as leader.

In the 2016 presidential election, there were approximately 620,000 Americans in Canada who were eligible to cast ballots, though only around 32,000 did.

Scheer was not one of them then either; he said last year he has never voted in U.S. elections.

A spokesperson was asked Wednesday whether he intends to vote this time and the answer was no.

Scheer received American citizenship through his father, a fact that did not become broadly known until last fall's federal election because, he said at the time, no one asked him.

The issue dogged him during the campaign in part because he had previously spoken out against high office holders hanging onto dual citizenships, without disclosing he was among them.

Though he won the leadership of the Conservative party in 2017, he didn't begin to take steps to renounce his American citizenship until just before the 2019 general election.

The decision to renounce was linked to the fact that he had a shot at becoming prime minister, he said at the time.

But the Conservatives failed to defeat the Liberals and Scheer announced in December he was stepping down as party leader, pending the selection of his replacement.

"Given the fact that I won't be prime minister, I discontinued the process," he said in May.

Current Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is not a citizen of any other country, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

MORE National ARTICLES

Chinese Canadian Museum of B.C. opens first exhibit

Chinese Canadian Museum of B.C. opens first exhibit
A giant, intricate dragon mask and a hand-painted wok greet visitors to the first-ever exhibition of the Chinese Canadian Museum of British Columbia in Vancouver's Chinatown.

Chinese Canadian Museum of B.C. opens first exhibit

Flu shot more popular due to COVID-19: study

Flu shot more popular due to COVID-19: study
A new study from the University of British Columbia suggests the COVID-19 pandemic may be motivating more parents to get their children a seasonal flu vaccine.

Flu shot more popular due to COVID-19: study

Man injured in bear attack near Lillooet, B.C.

Man injured in bear attack near Lillooet, B.C.
The BC Conservation Office Service says a man is recovering after he was seriously hurt by a bear while camping in a remote area near Lillooet over the weekend.

Man injured in bear attack near Lillooet, B.C.

B.C. doubles treatment beds for youth

B.C. doubles treatment beds for youth
The British Columbia government says it is committing $36 million over nearly three years to fund more addiction treatment space for youth.

B.C. doubles treatment beds for youth

University of Victoria hires new president

University of Victoria hires new president
A year-long search for a new president has taken the University of Victoria to Australia to hire a Canadian man.

University of Victoria hires new president

RCMP charge man after drugs, weapons, cash seized

RCMP charge man after drugs, weapons, cash seized
A five-month investigation in B.C. has resulted in charges against a man in what Ridge Meadows RCMP say is the largest seizure of drugs, weapons and cash in the detachment's history.

RCMP charge man after drugs, weapons, cash seized