Eleven People Who Could Replace Andrew Scheer as the Next Conservative Leader

Andrew Scheer has resigned as the leader of the Conservative Party, meaning one of the most powerful jobs in Canada open for the taking.

After stepping down on Thursday following allegations that he used party funds to pay for his kids’ private school tuition, Scheer asked the party to start the process of replacing him immediately. (The party and Scheer have denied that the tuition issue was a problem.)

If the 2017 leadership election taught us anything, it’s that conservatism in Canada is at a bit of a crossroads: it can carry on the status quo, it can lean into a more progressive future, or it can follow Maxime Bernier into far-right crazy town.

Melissa Lantsman, a former senior staffer with the Conservatives and the current vice-president of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, told VICE that she wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the faces who sat out the 2017 leadership race step in.

“Last time people thought Justin Trudeau would be a two-time majority PM but it turns out that he was exceptionally bad at his job,” said Lantsman. “So I think you'll see some of those who sat out the last time really consider jumping in and leading this party.”

Lantsman said she hopes that, unlike the past leadership race, this one will be quick and have a “high barrier to entry.” She believes the Conservatives need someone who can unify the opposing forces within the party rather than someone focused on pushing the party down certain ideological lines.

“I think the Conservatives should look more to winnability and what it takes to expand the base, rather than movement politics,” she said. “What I mean by movement politics is this sort of issue-driven politics that divides the party rather than unites it.”

There is no clear heir apparent to Scheer and the list of those who may assume the throne is a long one. Here are 11 names you may have to become familiar with as the Tories hunt for their new leader.

Rona Ambrose
Going by early endorsements, former interim leader (2015-2017) of the CPC, Rona Ambrose, seems to be a strong candidate. Ambrose, a self-described femninist who tried to reform how the justice system deals with sex assaults, announced her retirement from politics in 2017 after serving as an MP in the greater Edmonton region for 13 years. Recently Ambrose sat on a panel advising Canada on its negotiations for a new NAFTA deal. Jason Kenney has already endorsed Ambrose as leader telling the Calgary Herald, “she would be my first call” and that she would “make a brilliant leader.”

Peter MacKay

MacKay, like Ambrose, is already being considered a frontrunner for the position. MacKay wore many ministerial hats during his time in politics including Attorney General, minister of National Defence, and minister of Foreign Affairs. The 54-year-old politician chose not to run in the 2015 election and therefore give up his seat in favour of private sector work. Despite this, MacKay was still considered, by many, a favourite to take over Harper’s crown after the 2015 loss but again didn’t run. Furthermore, the former Antigonish MP has been a party leader before. In early 2003, he became the Progressive Conservative Party leader and led the party until the end of the year when it merged with the Harper’s Reform Party to form the CPC.

Brad Wall
Former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall was one of the most popular conservative provincial politicians in recent memory. Wall led the province from 2007 to 2018 when he stepped down from the Saskatchewan Party. Like other premiers who will appear on this list, Wall said he’s not interested in leading the party. On Friday morning he tweeted, “I will not be a candidate for the leadership. I am hopeful however that Rona Ambrose decides to be a candidate.”

Erin O'Toole
O’Toole came third in the leadership race, only behind two people most likely not running (Scheer stepped down, and Bernier is off playing with the crazies in the PPC.) The former second lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Air Force has been an MP for Durham since 2012.

Maxime Bernier
Speaking of Bernier and his crazies, here he is. Bernier is currently leading the People’s Party of Canada but that won’t be too hard of a position to drop as they won no seats in the past election and he lost his. While his far-right views have left him in political no man's land, stranger things have happened and he narrowly came in second in the 2017 leadership race.

Jason Kenney
Kenney, who only took control of Alberta this year, seems to have his hands full in his province and last week said he has “no interest in the federal leadership.” He instead threw his hat in Ambrose’s corner.

Micheal Chong
Chong was the progressive candidate in the last CPC leadership race. Chong was one of the only Conservatives in the race to not fall into anti-Islam fear tactics about M-103 and publically supported a carbon tax. He came in fifth. Chong has said he’d considering running.

Brad Trost
Trost is Chong’s foil. The socially conservative politician is known for his anti-gay and anti-abortion views. Trost came fourth in the 2017 leadership election.

Michelle Rempel Garner
While she didn’t run for the leadership last year, Rempel Garner is one of the highest-profile MPs in opposition due to her role as the immigration critic. The Calgary Nosehead MP is known for attempting to push the party to the left on some social issues like LGBTQ rights and abortion.

Pierre Poilievre
Poilievre, another high profile Conservative who didn’t run in the last leadership election, has been an Ottawa MP since 2004. The current finance critic has previously worked as the Minister of Employment when his party was in power. He’s frequently described as one of the Conservatives’ “attack dogs.”

Doug Ford
The buffoonish premier of Ontario is riding pretty darn low approval numbers and, like Kenney, has said he will not be running for the job.

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