Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
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

Trudeau says pandemic 'really sucks'

Trudeau says pandemic 'really sucks'
Acknowledging frustrations around partial lockdowns and scrapped Halloween plans in some parts of the country, Trudeau said Tuesday that Canadians need to gird themselves for a "tough winter ahead."

Trudeau says pandemic 'really sucks'

Watchdog urges pause on assisted death in prisons

Watchdog urges pause on assisted death in prisons
Federal correctional investigator Ivan Zinger says there are three known cases of doctor-assisted death in federal prisons and each raises questions around consent, choice and dignity.

Watchdog urges pause on assisted death in prisons

Artistic impulse ends badly in Nanaimo, B.C

Artistic impulse ends badly in Nanaimo, B.C
Nanaimo RCMP say an officer was called to a doughnut shop on Sunday when staff reported someone had just spray-painted the shop floor.

Artistic impulse ends badly in Nanaimo, B.C

B.C. brings in more COVID restrictions

B.C. brings in more COVID restrictions
Dr. Bonnie Henry says gatherings are now limited to those in an immediate household, plus their safe six -- although in some homes even six guests may be too many.

B.C. brings in more COVID restrictions

Charges approved in South Vancouver sexual assault

Charges approved in South Vancouver sexual assault
Daniel Ghoukassian, 32, has been charged for one count of sexual assault in relation to the incident on October 19. The second incident continues to be under investigation.

Charges approved in South Vancouver sexual assault

Tories seek to amend bill conversion therapy bill

Tories seek to amend bill conversion therapy bill
In signalling their intention on Monday to move an amendment to the proposed law, the party also showcased efforts to bridge the gap between their social conservative base and the more moderate MPs in caucus.

Tories seek to amend bill conversion therapy bill