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

Vancouver mayor wants B.C. premier to review policing across province

Vancouver mayor wants B.C. premier to review policing across province
Vancouver's mayor wants the B.C. government to conduct a review of policing across the province. Kennedy Stewart says city council can do little to change policing in Vancouver and the provincial government could override any potential decision.

Vancouver mayor wants B.C. premier to review policing across province

Alberta licence plates become targets for COVID-19 fears in some B.C. towns

Alberta licence plates become targets for COVID-19 fears in some B.C. towns
Some British Columbia communities are urging residents to show kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic following media reports of confrontations and rudeness shown to people driving vehicles with out-of-province licence plates.

Alberta licence plates become targets for COVID-19 fears in some B.C. towns

B.C. records highest overdose death toll for one month in May

B.C. records highest overdose death toll for one month in May
British Columbia has recorded the highest number of illicit drug overdose deaths in a single month, reaching the grim milestone in May. The coroners service says 170 people died in May, compared with 76 deaths in February as concentrations of the deadly opioid fentanyl have increased.

B.C. records highest overdose death toll for one month in May

Politicians urged to collaborate on pandemic benefit for disabled Canadians

Politicians urged to collaborate on pandemic benefit for disabled Canadians
Federal politicians are being urged to work together to help Canadians with disabilities weather the COVID-19 crisis.

Politicians urged to collaborate on pandemic benefit for disabled Canadians

Federal prison chaplains escalate fight for collective agreement

Federal prison chaplains escalate fight for collective agreement
Federal prison chaplains are stepping up a bid to negotiate their first collective agreement to secure better wages and working conditions.

Federal prison chaplains escalate fight for collective agreement

Military spending needed more now than ever, top defence official says

Military spending needed more now than ever, top defence official says
The Defence Department's top civilian official is touting the importance of continued investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, and says she has received no indications the Liberal government is planning to cut spending because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Military spending needed more now than ever, top defence official says