Wednesday, December 31, 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

Military set to let Cyclone helicopters fly again after Stalker 22 crash

Military set to let Cyclone helicopters fly again after Stalker 22 crash
The Canadian Armed Forces is expected to share its plan for getting its Cyclone helicopters back in the air on Tuesday, even as military investigators continue to probe the cause of the deadly crash that forced the fleet to be temporarily grounded.

Military set to let Cyclone helicopters fly again after Stalker 22 crash

Judge concerned over time it's taking to hear Meng Wanzhou's extradition case

Judge concerned over time it's taking to hear Meng Wanzhou's extradition case
The B.C. Supreme Court judge in Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's extradition case says she's concerned by the length of the proceedings.

Judge concerned over time it's taking to hear Meng Wanzhou's extradition case

Canada to pay $4.1B for Navy support ships in latest cost increase

Canada to pay $4.1B for Navy support ships in latest cost increase
Canada's national shipbuilding plan was rocked by yet another cost increase on Monday as the federal government revealed it will pay $4.1 billion for two long-overdue support ships for the navy — an increase of $1.5 billion from initial estimates.

Canada to pay $4.1B for Navy support ships in latest cost increase

Partner of N.S. gunman renounces claim to gunman's estate valued at $1.2 million

Partner of N.S. gunman renounces claim to gunman's estate valued at $1.2 million
The girlfriend of a gunman who carried out a mass shooting in Nova Scotia has renounced any claim on his estate, initially valued at more than $1.2 million.

Partner of N.S. gunman renounces claim to gunman's estate valued at $1.2 million

Streaming concert, online videos and fireworks app to help mark Canada Day 2020

Streaming concert, online videos and fireworks app to help mark Canada Day 2020
Canadians are being offered a buffet of online videos, crafts and even a stop-motion animation app to celebrate Canada Day from home.

Streaming concert, online videos and fireworks app to help mark Canada Day 2020

Trudeau looks to extend COVID-19 benefit

Trudeau looks to extend COVID-19 benefit
The Liberals are putting together a plan to extend one of the key COVID-19 benefits ahead of a parliamentary showdown on Wednesday.

Trudeau looks to extend COVID-19 benefit