Friday, July 3, 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

World has 'positive lesson to learn' after MMIWG inquiry: Trudeau

Trudeau said that the work of the commission was important to establish what has happened, adding the focus now needs to be on respect for Indigenous Peoples and putting an end to terrible violence in Canada and elsewhere in the world.

World has 'positive lesson to learn' after MMIWG inquiry: Trudeau

Toronto kicks off series of ceremonies marking 75th anniversary of D-Day

The city commemorated the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of France that turned the tide of the conflict.

Toronto kicks off series of ceremonies marking 75th anniversary of D-Day

Alberta introduces amended Education Act; Opposition says LGBTQ kids at risk

A bill introduced Wednesday by Education Minister Adriana LaGrange is meant to replace the 31-year-old School Act and governs everything from school attendance to district boundaries and trustee voting.

Alberta introduces amended Education Act; Opposition says LGBTQ kids at risk

Young Quebecers take Ottawa to court in class action over climate change

The class action would be on behalf of Quebec youth, whom lawyers argue are being deprived of a right to a healthy environment and will suffer the effects of global warming more than older generations.

Young Quebecers take Ottawa to court in class action over climate change

DFO investigates sixth dead grey whale found off British Columbia coast

Department of Fisheries and Oceans crews spotted the dead mature female floating in Boundary Bay near the United States border on Tuesday.

DFO investigates sixth dead grey whale found off British Columbia coast

Aging Haida totem comes down during ceremony outside Royal B.C. Museum

The ceremony was the second such gathering in recent days to bring down totems at the end of their life spans.

Aging Haida totem comes down during ceremony outside Royal B.C. Museum