Sunday, June 21, 2026
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

Liberals' 35 Quebec Seats Remain Unchanged After Bloc Concedes In Recount

Liberals' 35 Quebec Seats Remain Unchanged After Bloc Concedes In Recount
OTTAWA - The Bloc Quebecois has conceded defeat in a Quebec City riding it had hoped to snatch from the Liberals in an official recount.    

Liberals' 35 Quebec Seats Remain Unchanged After Bloc Concedes In Recount

Coalition Avenir Quebec Loses Vote On Student Immigration Plan Despite Majority

QUEBEC - It was a difficult day Wednesday on the immigration front for the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec.

Coalition Avenir Quebec Loses Vote On Student Immigration Plan Despite Majority

Nova Scotia Premier Defends Trade Mission To China As Canadians Remain Detained

Nova Scotia Premier Defends Trade Mission To China As Canadians Remain Detained
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's premier is defending his latest trade mission to China as two Canadians held by the economic giant approach one year behind bars.

Nova Scotia Premier Defends Trade Mission To China As Canadians Remain Detained

Alberta Will Study Already 'Compelling Case' For Its Exit From CPP: Kenney

With growing frustrations in his province about its place in the federation, Kenney has revealed that a deeper analysis is on the way to consider Alberta's potential withdrawal from the national pension plan.

Alberta Will Study Already 'Compelling Case' For Its Exit From CPP: Kenney

Food Vouchers Replace Cheques As Computer Woes Continue For Nunavut Government

IQALUIT, Nunavut - The government of Nunavut is still dealing with its computer systems after a cyber attack paralyzed its entire network.    

Food Vouchers Replace Cheques As Computer Woes Continue For Nunavut Government

Don't Force Military Court To Hear Omar Khadr Appeal, U.S. Government Argues

TORONTO - Forcing a military court to hear and decide an appeal from former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr is inappropriate, the American government says.    

Don't Force Military Court To Hear Omar Khadr Appeal, U.S. Government Argues