Editing Andrew Scheer (section)

==Political career==
===First years in the House of Commons===
Scheer was elected at age 25 as a [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] candidate in the [[2004 Canadian federal election|federal election of 2004]], in the [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Regina—Qu'Appelle]], beating [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP) MP [[Lorne Nystrom]] by 861 votes.<ref name="elections.ca">[http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2004/default.html Elections Canada, Official Voting Results], 28 June 2004.</ref> Near the end of the race, Scheer accused Nystrom of being soft on child pornography.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/he-actually-understood-what-it-meant-to-be-a-candidate-andrew-scheer-the-ultimate-political-animal|title='He actually understood what it meant to be a candidate': Andrew Scheer the ultimate political animal|date=9 June 2017|work=National Post|access-date=13 October 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> Scheer was re-elected in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|federal election of 2006]], again defeating Nystrom, this time by a margin of 2,740 votes.<ref>[http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2006/default.html Elections Canada, Official Voting Results], 23 January 2006.</ref>

In April 2006, during the [[39th Canadian Parliament]], Scheer was named as assistant deputy chairman of Committees of the Whole, one of three deputy speakers. He also sponsored a bill that would create [[minimum sentence]]s for those convicted of [[motor vehicle theft]] called Bill C-343, ''An Act to amend the Criminal Code (motor vehicle theft)''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/39-2/bill/C-343/first-reading/page-24|title=Private Member's Bill C-343 (39–2) – First Reading – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (motor vehicle theft) – Parliament of Canada|website=www.parl.ca}}</ref>

On November 21, 2008, during the [[40th Canadian Parliament]], he was named [[Speaker of the House of Commons (Canada)#Deputy speaker|deputy speaker of the House of Commons and chairman of Committees of the Whole]], succeeding NDP MP [[Bill Blaikie]].<ref>[http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=1&DocId=3611885 Journal of the House of Commons of Canada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812163852/http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=1&DocId=3611885 |date=August 12, 2016 }}, 21 November 2008.</ref>

===Speaker of the House of Commons===
When the Conservative Party won a majority at the [[2011 Canadian federal election|federal election in 2011]], Scheer's experience as deputy speaker led many to consider him the front-runner to be elected [[Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada|speaker of the House of Commons]].<ref name="The Globe and Mail">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/health-care-talks-with-provinces-should-top-harpers-list-poll-finds/article614845/|title=Health Care Talks with Provinces Should Top Harper's List, Poll Finds|quote=Others on that list [of candidates for Speaker]&nbsp;– Saskatchewan Tory MP and perceived frontrunner Andrew Scheer [...]|work=The Globe and Mail|date=2 June 2011|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ndp-mp-aims-to-be-second-female-speaker-in-history|title=NDP MP Aims to Be Second Female Speaker in History|work=National Post|date=21 May 2011|quote=It's widely speculated, however, that a Conservative is going to get the position, and Andrew Scheer, who has served as Assistant Deputy Speaker and Deputy Speaker for more than five years, is considered the frontrunner.}}</ref> On June 2, 2011, Scheer defeated [[Denise Savoie]], the lone opposition and only woman candidate, in the sixth round of balloting. Scheer became the youngest House speaker in Canadian history.<ref name="CBC-youngest-speaker">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mps-elect-youngest-speaker-1.1022517|title=MPs elect youngest Speaker|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Meagan|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=2 June 2011|access-date=27 May 2017}}</ref> Liberal MPs, who opposed Scheer's candidacy, criticized the NDP for voting for their own party member instead of tipping the balance toward Conservative MP [[Lee Richardson (politician)|Lee Richardson]] based on the MPs' beliefs that Scheer was "Harper's Boy".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/canada/108981-speaker-frustrating-some-mps/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080848/http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/canada/108981-speaker-frustrating-some-mps/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2018|title=Speaker frustrating some MPs {{!}} The Chronicle Herald|date=26 August 2018|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref>

During his tenure, some individual opposition MPs were critical of some of his decisions. Liberal MP [[Irwin Cotler]] questioned his impartiality due to a decision over a robocall incident with [[Campaign Research (firm)|Campaign Research]] (it was reported that Scheer was a client of the firm).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/house-speaker-used-firm-linked-to-cotler-calls-1.1000683|title=House Speaker used firm linked to Cotler calls|work=CBC News|access-date=7 December 2017|language=en}}</ref>

During the [[2011 Canadian federal election voter suppression scandal]], opposition politicians raised concerns over Scheer's interventions to block questions after ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' revealed that his riding association loaned $3,000 to Marty Burke while Burke's campaign was under scrutiny by [[Elections Canada]] over the incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/speakers-riding-shifted-cash-to-tory-campaign-ensnared-in-robo-calls-probe/article535498/|title=Speaker's riding shifted cash to Tory campaign ensnared in robo-calls probe|access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>

===After 2015===
Scheer was re-elected in the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]] in which the Conservative government was defeated.<ref>[http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2004/default.html Elections Canada, Official Voting Results], 19 October 2015.</ref> He was appointed [[Opposition House Leader|opposition House leader]] by leader of the Official Opposition and interim [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] party leader [[Rona Ambrose]]. He thought about running for the position of interim party leader but was dissuaded by fellow caucus MP [[Chris Warkentin]], who pointed out that the interim leader cannot take the permanent position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2017/06/13/warkentin-happy-with-scheer-election|title=Warkentin happy with Scheer election|last=nurun.com|website=Daily Herald Tribune|language=en-CA|access-date=7 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208010439/http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2017/06/13/warkentin-happy-with-scheer-election|archive-date=8 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> On September 13, 2016, he announced his resignation as House leader outside a party caucus meeting in Halifax in order to explore a bid for the [[2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|leadership of the federal Conservative Party]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-tuesday-1.3759864|title=With MacKay out, Scheer steps down as House leader to explore Tory leadership run|last=McGregor|first=Janyce|publisher=CBC News|date=13 September 2016|access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref>

In 2016, Scheer publicly voiced his support for the UK's decision to vote in favour of [[Brexit]] during the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|referendum]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andrew-scheer-a-strong-britain-is-an-independent-britain|title=Andrew Scheer: A strong Britain is an independent Britain|date=20 June 2016|work=National Post|access-date=13 October 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> Later in 2018, Scheer tweeted, "I was pro-Brexit before it was cool."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-brexit-conservative-european-union-1.5300467|title=What Brexit? Why Andrew Scheer seems reluctant to talk about the project he once called 'cool': Once Canada's keenest Brexiteer, Scheer now avoids the topic|last=Dyer|first=Evan|work=CBC News|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>

===2017 leadership election===
{{see also|2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election}}
[[File:Andrew Scheer leadership campaign logo.png|thumb|left|Leadership campaign logo]]
On September 28, 2016, Scheer announced his bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party, saying that he had the support of 32 members of the Conservative caucus.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/andrew-scheer-conservative-leadership-race-1.3782244|title=Ex-Commons Speaker Scheer declares candidacy for Conservative leadership |access-date=28 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/andrew-scheer-announces-support-of-20-members-of-conservative-caucus-as-he-makes-leadership-bid-official|title=Andrew Scheer announces support of 20 members of Conservative caucus as he makes leadership bid official|last=Fekete|first=Jason|work=National Post|date=28 September 2016|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref> On May 27, 2017, Scheer was elected as the second leader of the Conservative Party, beating runner up [[Maxime Bernier]] and more than 12 others with 50.95 per cent of the vote through 13 rounds.<ref name="cbcleadwinner">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-race-winner-1.4134575|title=Andrew Scheer elected new Conservative leader|last=Harris|first=Kathleen|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=27 May 2017|access-date=27 May 2017}}</ref> Bernier later attributed his failure to what he called the "fake conservatives" in the [[Supply management (Canada)|supply management]] dairy lobby and agricultural sector. Scheer garnered laughs at the annual Press Gallery dinner by joking:<ref name="mbgm">{{cite news |last1=Bernier |first1=Maxime |title=Excerpt: MP Maxime Bernier details impact of supply-management lobby on Tory leadership bid |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-excerpt-mp-maxime-bernier-details-impact-of-supply-management-lobby/ |publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc |date=10 April 2018 |quote=Andrew was said to have gotten the most laughs when he declared "I certainly don't owe my leadership victory to anybody...", stopping in mid-sentence to take a swig of 2% milk from the carton. "It's a high quality drink and it's affordable too."}}</ref>
{{cquote|"I certainly don't owe my leadership victory to anybody...", stopping in mid-sentence to take a swig of 2% milk from the carton. "It's a high quality drink and it's affordable too."}}

Scheer's campaign for the Conservative leadership was run under the slogan "Real conservative. Real leader."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andrewscheer.com/ |title=Andrew Scheer. Real Conservative. Real Leader |publisher=Andrewscheer.com |access-date=2017-04-25}}</ref> He avoided advocating the [[social conservative]] issues that some of the candidates championed, saying that he wanted to "reach a broader audience of Canadians". Positions on which he took a strong stance included scrapping the [[carbon tax]] and being "tough on crime".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/andrew-scheer-s-conservative-leadership-plans-moving-beyond-debate-club-1.3233739|title=Andrew Scheer's Conservative leadership plans: moving beyond 'debate club'|last=Payton|first=Laura|publisher=[[CTV News]]|date=10 January 2017|access-date=27 May 2017}}</ref> During his political career, Scheer has been compared to former [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Stephen Harper]], and has been called "Harper with a smile"<ref name="holman">{{Cite web|url=https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/opinion/alan-holman-is-scheer-just-a-smiling-harper-110925/|title=ALAN HOLMAN: Is Scheer just a smiling Harper? {{!}} The Guardian|website=www.theguardian.pe.ca|language=en|access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref> or "Stephen Harper 2.0".<ref name="hws">{{Citation|title='Harper with a smile' argues he can keep the Conservative coalition together|date=8 April 2017|url=http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/915543619783|language=en-CA|access-date=15 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="rico">{{cite news|url=https://ricochet.media/en/2104/andrew-scheer-and-the-anti-abortion-movement-in-canada|title=Andrew Scheer and the anti-abortion movement in Canada {{!}} Ricochet|work=Ricochet|access-date=15 March 2018}}</ref> Scheer is considered a [[Blue Tory]]<ref name="Krayden">{{cite news|url=http://www.ottawasun.com/2017/05/21/as-conservative-leadership-race-wraps-the-partys-in-good-hands|title=As Conservative leadership race wraps, the party's in good hands|last=Krayden|first=David|date=21 May 2017|access-date=28 May 2017|publisher=[[Ottawa Sun]]}}</ref> and is critical of the policies of Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]], having also been critical of Trudeau's late father, former prime minister [[Pierre Trudeau]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/andrew-scheers-victory-speech-takes-aim-at-trudeau/|title=Andrew Scheer's victory speech takes aim at Trudeau – Macleans.ca|date=27 May 2017|work=Macleans.ca|access-date=16 January 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Scheer considered former prime minister [[John Diefenbaker]] and British [[member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) [[Daniel Hannan]] as political influences.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/andrew-scheer-conservative-party/article36509608/?ref=https://www.theglobeandmail.com&|title=Andrew who? In search of Scheer's still-elusive Conservative identity|date=6 October 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=8 November 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> Scheer described [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]]s [[Ted Cruz]] and [[Marco Rubio]] as "strong conservative voices" during the 2016 Manning Center Conference.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pressprogress.ca/former_speaker_andrew_scheer_praises_ted_cruz_and_marco_rubio_as_strong_conservative_voices/|title=VIDEO: Former Speaker Andrew Scheer praises Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio as 'strong conservative voices'|work=PressProgress|access-date=2 February 2018|language=en}}</ref> Unlike other candidates, Scheer's leadership team was focused less on headlines or eye-grabbing policy and more on data and organizing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/05/28/andrew-scheer-from-youngest-house-speaker-to-conservative-leader.html|title=All your Andrew Scheer questions answered|last=Boutilier|first=Alex|date=28 May 2017|work=The Toronto Star|access-date=3 March 2018|language=en-CA|issn=0319-0781}}</ref>

During the Conservative leadership race, Scheer stated that he would balance the federal budget within two years of forming government, but his platform on specific reforms to accomplish this was not revealed at that time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/politics-briefing-andrew-scheer-is-the-new-leader-of-the-conservative-party/article35138985/|title=Politics Briefing newsletter: Andrew Scheer is the new leader of the Conservative Party|date=27 May 2017|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref>

Scheer benefited from the unexpected support of [[Brad Trost]] during the leadership race. It was reported that some of Trost supporters contravened the ''[[Canada Elections Act]]'' and party membership rules by offering incentives to vote. [[Dimitri Soudas]], a former Harper aide, pointed out that it violated election rules and it benefited Scheer's campaign but the ballots had been destroyed so the result stood.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://toronto.citynews.ca/2017/06/23/discounts-offered-exchange-conservative-party-membership-documents-show/|title=Discounts offered in exchange for Conservative Party membership, documents show – CityNews Toronto|date=23 June 2017|work=CityNews Toronto|access-date=17 May 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Andrew Scheer and leadership team.jpg|thumb|Scheer with his leadership team ([[Mark Strahl]], [[Alain Rayes]], [[Lisa Raitt]], [[Chris Warkentin]], and [[Candice Bergen (politician)|Candice Bergen]]) shortly after his leadership victory]]
Scheer was criticized by opposition politicians for removing his campaign platform after winning the Conservative leadership race.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-conservative-leadership-policies-1.4136911|title=Critics accuse new Conservative leader of hiding policies after campaign win|work=CBC News|access-date=17 October 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andrewscheer.com/policy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525150751/http://www.andrewscheer.com/policy|title=Andrew Scheer's policy positions|work=Re-Elect Andrew Scheer in Regina-Qu'Appelle |publisher=Conservative Party of Canada|archive-date=25 May 2017|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref> Conservative strategists suggested that the ideas proposed by Scheer during the race were not likely to be part of the party's 2019 election platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.southasianpost.com/article/7005-scheer-rationality.html|title=Scheer rationality {{!}} South Asian Post {{!}} Indo Canadian newspaper – Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary, Toronto, Brampton, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal|website=www.southasianpost.com|language=en|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> It was later revealed in a [[Dairy Farmers of Canada]] briefing document after the 2018 Conservative Convention in Halifax that "The powers of the leader are far reaching in preventing policy from being in the party platform. DFC [Dairy Farmers of Canada] has been told by the Leader’s office that he will exercise this power, and that this policy will not be in the Conservative election platform regardless of the outcome at convention".<ref name="theglobeandmail.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-dairy-lobbys-claim-about-a-deal-with-andrew-scheer-is-false/|title=Dairy lobby's claim about a deal with Andrew Scheer is false, Conservative leader's office says|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref>

The day after the election it was revealed that Hamish Marshall, Scheer's campaign manager, was listed as an IT specialist and one of the directors of the [[far right]] news outlet [[Rebel News#Boycott by the Conservative Party of Canada|The Rebel Media]].<ref name="globalnews.ca">{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3680438/a-fight-over-a-four-bedroom-house-the-rebel-media-meltdown-and-the-full-recording-at-the-centre-of-the-controversy/|title=A fight over a four-bedroom house: The Rebel Media meltdown and the full recording at the centre of the controversy|website=Globalnews.ca|access-date=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3485784/andrew-scheer-rebel-media/|title=New Tory leader Andrew Scheer campaign linked with controversial Rebel Media|work=Global News|access-date=14 November 2017|language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/scheers-campaign-manager-on-ending-his-rebel-ties/|title=Andrew Scheer's campaign manager on ending his Rebel ties – Macleans.ca|date=17 August 2017|work=Macleans.ca|access-date=17 October 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> On October 16, 2017, ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' asked Scheer if he knew that Marshall worked for the Rebel during the leadership campaign, he responded: "I didn't ask Hamish about every client he had" and then ended the interview. Later, a Conservative spokesperson clarified that Scheer was aware that the Rebel was one of Marshall's many clients, but did not know the specifics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thewalrus.ca/andrew-scheers-ties-to-rebel-media-are-now-impossible-to-deny/|title=Andrew Scheer's Ties to Rebel Media Are Now Impossible to Deny|work=The Walrus|access-date=31 October 2017|language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/scheer-walks-out-on-media-when-asked-about-campaign-managers-rebel-ties/article36610946/|title=Scheer walks out on media when asked about campaign manager's Rebel ties|date=16 October 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=12 January 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> The day after, Marshall was named Conservative campaign chair for the [[43rd Canadian federal election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hamish-marshall-andrew-scheer-conservative-campaign-1.4358811|title=Conservatives name former Rebel Media director as 2019 campaign chair|last=Cullen|first=Catherine|date=17 October 2017|work=CBC News}}</ref> On March 21, 2018, in an interview with [[Maclean's|Macleans]], Scheer stated that Marshall and his past relationship with the Rebel should not be conflated with his selection as campaign chair.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/the-confidence-of-andrew-scheer/|title=The confidence of Andrew Scheer – Macleans.ca|date=21 March 2018|work=Macleans.ca|access-date=21 March 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Leader of the Conservative Party ===
[[File:Swearing In - Assermentation (37356449481).jpg|thumb|right|Scheer in the Large Drawing Room of [[Rideau Hall]] being sworn into the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada]]]]
After the August 2017 [[Unite the Right rally|Charlottesville, Virginia "Unite the Right" rally]], Scheer denounced ''Rebel News''<ref>Then known as '''The Rebel Media'''</ref> due to its sympathetic coverage of the rally,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metronews.ca/views/metro-views/2017/08/29/brian-mulroney-named-names-and-denounced-racism-in-the-80s-why-can-t-andrew-scheer-mochama.html|title=Mulroney denounced racism in the '80s. Why can't Andrew Scheer right now?: Mochama {{!}} Metro News|work=metronews.ca|access-date=31 October 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104174621/http://www.metronews.ca/views/metro-views/2017/08/29/brian-mulroney-named-names-and-denounced-racism-in-the-80s-why-can-t-andrew-scheer-mochama.html|archive-date=4 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and stated that he would stop doing interviews with The Rebel Media until its "editorial directions" changed.<ref name=Maloney>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/08/17/andrew-scheer-says-he-won-t-do-interviews-with-rebel-media-until_a_23080706/|first=Ryan|last=Maloney|title=Scheer Says He Won't Do Interviews with the Rebel|date=17 August 2017}}</ref> The following day, Scheer stated that he would not be granting interviews with Rebel going forward in an interview with the ''[[National Post]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/after-events-cancelled-at-toronto-campuses-andrew-scheer-says-universities-have-right-to-decide-who-gets-space|title=After campus events cancelled, Andrew Scheer says universities have right to decide who gets space|date=18 August 2017|work=National Post|access-date=20 March 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:Andrew Scheer with Kelly Knight Craft - 2018 (25766214208).jpg|thumb|right|Scheer and US Ambassador to Canada, [[Kelly Craft]], January 2018]]
On January 4, 2018, Scheer expelled Senator [[Lynn Beyak]] from the Conservative caucus, after she refused to remove one of her letters that suggested Indigenous people want to get things for "no effort". He also stated that "Racism will not be tolerated in the Conservative caucus or Conservative Party of Canada".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/sen-lynn-beyak-removed-from-tory-caucus-over-racist-post-on-website-scheer|title=Sen. Lynn Beyak booted from Conservative caucus over 'racist' post on website|date=5 January 2018|work=National Post|access-date=9 January 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Scheer said that his office was only aware of the letters on 2 January, but Garnet Angeconeb, a [[Residential School System|residential school]] survivor, stated that he emailed Scheer and Conservative Senate Leader [[Larry Smith (Canadian politician)|Larry Smith]] about them on September 15, 2017, and did not get a response.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-edition-1.4474747/residential-school-survivor-says-he-told-andrew-scheer-about-lynn-beyak-s-letters-months-ago-1.4474779|title=Residential school survivor says he told Andrew Scheer about Lynn Beyak's letters months ago|work=CBC Radio|access-date=9 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> In response, Beyak said neither Scheer nor anyone from his office contacted her to take down a letter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/beyak-responds-scheer-letter-1.4477702|title=Ousted Tory senator denies Andrew Scheer's version of events {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=9 January 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> A senior Conservative source supported Beyak's accusation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lynn-beyak-senators-request-ethics-1.4479254|title=Independent senators call for ethics probe into 'deeply offensive' comments on Lynn Beyak's website|work=CBC News|access-date=9 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Andrew Scheer with Theresa May - 2018 (25826513867) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Scheer meeting British Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] in London, March 2018]]
Scheer travelled to the United Kingdom in March 2018 to "lay the groundwork" for a [[Canada–United Kingdom relations|Canada–UK]] trade agreement, should he become prime minister after the [[43rd Canadian federal election|2019 election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Scheer off to London to lay groundwork for Canada-U.K. free trade deal should he become PM|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-united-kingdom-trip-1.4563485|agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> In London, he met with Prime Minister [[Theresa May]], [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] [[Boris Johnson]], and other UK ministers including [[Liam Fox]] and [[Sajid Javid]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Andrew Scheer talks trade in London amid chaos of Brexit, Trump tariffs|publisher=Metro Toronto|date=5 March 2018}}</ref> Scheer's trip faced minor criticism from ''The Globe and Mail'' and the ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]''. The ''Citizen'' editorial commented that the trip was "undiplomatic" and "not statesmanlike", while the ''Globe'' editorial pointed out that a Canada–UK trade agreement had already been announced the prior year by Prime Minister Trudeau.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/gormley-why-mr-scheers-trip-to-london-is-so-impolite|title=Gormley: Why Mr. Scheer's trip to London is so impolite|date=9 March 2018|work=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=15 March 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-globe-editorial-andrew-scheers-strange-mission-to-london/|title=Globe editorial: Andrew Scheer's strange mission to London|access-date=15 March 2018}}</ref>

Toward the end of March 2018, the Opposition held a [[filibuster]] over the government's India trip, which was intended to persuade the governing Liberals to answer questions in the House of Commons about the apparent scandal, and provide open and transparent information to the Canadian public; the filibuster lasted 21 hours costing taxpayers $50,000 per hour in overtime fees.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4106142/jaspal-atwal-conservative-filibuster/|title=Another Conservative filibuster in the works over Jaspal Atwal affair|work=Global News|access-date=27 March 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tories-all-night-votes-testimony-1.4589359|title=Tories wrap up day-long standoff in House of Commons {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=27 March 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> It was revealed that a few days before commencing the filibuster to demand information, Scheer's office was offered a briefing by the [[Privy Council Office (Canada)|Privy Council Office]] regarding the trip. A spokesperson of Scheer's responded to these claims by stating "Has the government offered Andrew a briefing? The answer is 'no{{'"}}, and "This [is] fake news."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/03/22/scheer-denies-trudeau-government-offered-briefing-jaspal-atwal_a_23393076/|title=Scheer's Office Denies Gov't Offered Him Briefing on Atwal Affair|date=22 March 2018|work=HuffPost Canada|access-date=27 March 2018|language=en-CA}}</ref> A day later, Andrew Scheer called the allegation "completely false" and stated he would accept an offer if it were made to all members of Parliament. It was later revealed that the [[Clerk of the Privy Council (Canada)|clerk of the Privy Council]], [[Michael Wernick]] approached Scheer's chief of staff and Conservative MP [[Tony Clement]] to brief Scheer on any information the Privy Council may have. Clement responded that he would not confirm or deny it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/03/23/andrew-scheer-jaspal-atwal-affair-briefing_a_23393925/|title=Scheer Hints He Doesn't Want Private Briefing on Atwal Affair|date=23 March 2018|work=HuffPost Canada|access-date=27 March 2018|language=en-CA}}</ref> A couple of weeks later, Scheer accepted a briefing on the matter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4119853/andrew-scheer-jaspal-atwal-india-trip/|title=Andrew Scheer says he will accept unclassified briefing on Jaspal Atwal affair – and invite media|work=Global News|access-date=22 May 2018|language=en}}</ref>

After the Conservative Convention in August 2018, Scheer denied an allegation that the Dairy Farmers of Canada worked with his office to block a motion to change the party's position on [[Supply management (Canada)|supply management]] after a page from the briefing book was already made public on Twitter by a Conservative delegate.<ref name="theglobeandmail.com"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/full-text-the-dairy-lobby-briefing-binder-found-on-the-floor-of-the-conservative-convention|title=Full text: The dairy lobby briefing binder found on the floor of the Conservative convention|work=National Post|date=28 August 2018|language=en-CA|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref>

====2019 federal election====
{{main|2019 Canadian federal election}}
At the 2019 election, Scheer led the Conservatives to a gain of 26 seats for a total of 121, up from 95 at the time of dissolution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://election.ctvnews.ca/conservatives-win-popular-vote-but-lose-election-1.4649651|title=Conservatives win popular vote but lose election|website=election.ctvnews.ca|date=22 October 2019}}</ref> However, they finished 36 seats behind the Liberals despite winning 34.4 per cent of the popular vote to the Liberals' 33.1 per cent, a margin of just over 240,000 votes. It was the first time since 1979 that a party won the most seats without winning the popular vote.<ref name=toronto>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-election-results-1.5330105|title=Ontario and Quebec keep Liberals in power and Conservatives out|publisher=cbc.ca|date=22 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://election.ctvnews.ca/historic-opportunity-opposition-leaders-take-stock-after-liberal-minority-win-1.4649796|title='Historic opportunity': Opposition leaders take stock after Liberal minority win|first=Rachel|last=Aiello|date=22 October 2019|website=Federal Election 2019}}</ref> It was also the first time since a government took power with less than 35 per cent of the national popular vote since the [[John A. Macdonald]]-led Tories in 1867, who had 34.8 per cent.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/election-2019/canadian-federal-election-2019-liberals-justin-trudeau-win|title=All-time low share of popular vote is enough for Liberals to win power &#124; National Post|newspaper=National Post |date=22 October 2019|last1=Brean |first1=Joseph }}</ref>

Much of the Conservatives' plurality was built on large margins in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where they won 70 per cent and 65 per cent of the popular vote, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-election-results-2019-cbc-leaders-1.5329485|title=Liberals take losses but win enough in Quebec and Ontario to form minority government|publisher=cbc.ca|date=21 October 2019}}</ref> However, they only won five seats in the suburbs of the [[Greater Toronto Area]] and were completely shut out in Toronto itself, in part due to the unpopularity of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|provincial Conservative]] government of Premier [[Doug Ford]].<ref name=toronto/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-vote-compass-results-1.5329652|title=Doug Ford's government hurt Andrew Scheer in Ontario, Vote Compass data suggests|publisher=cbc.ca|date=21 October 2019}}</ref>

On December 12, 2019, Scheer announced that he would resign as leader of the Conservatives and Official Opposition, staying on until a new leader could be selected.<ref name=resign>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-resigns-1.5393803|title=Conservative caucus backs Scheer as interim leader amid private school backlash|publisher=cbc.ca|date=12 December 2019}}</ref> The same day, the Conservative Party confirmed that it had been paying the difference in the cost of private school tuition for Scheer's children in Saskatchewan and the higher cost of tuition in Ottawa—insisting the tuition matter was not the reason for Scheer's resignation.<ref name=resign/>

===Post-leadership===
On September 8, 2020, Scheer was announced as the Opposition Critic for Infrastructure & Communities in his successor [[Erin O'Toole]]'s shadow cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/otoole-critics-1.5715390|title=Scheer finds place among Conservatives' new Opposition critics|date=8 September 2020|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref> In that role, he sponsored private member Bill C-269 to amend the Fisheries Act to prohibit the deposit of raw sewage in water frequented by fish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-269/first-reading|title=Bill C-269 An Act to amend the Fisheries Act (prohibition — deposit of raw sewage) |date=18 February 2021|access-date=22 June 2021 |publisher=Parliament of Canada}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://esemag.com/wastewater/new-bill-revert-law-charge-for-raw-sewage-dumps/|title=New bill aims to revert law and charge communities for raw sewage dumps|date=23 May 2021|access-date=22 June 2021 |publisher=Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine}}</ref>

On February 2, 2022, Scheer posed for a picture posted on [[Saskatoon—Grasswood]] MP [[Kevin Waugh]]'s Twitter page<ref>{{cite web
 | last          = Waugh
 | first         = Kevin
 | title         = A few of our SK Caucus members went to show our appreciation for the hardworking, patriotic truckers who have kept our supply chains healthy & grocery shelves stocked for the past two years. It's great to see Canadians championing freedom on Parliament Hill.
 | url           = https://twitter.com/KevinWaugh_CPC/status/1489038906951671811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1489054300785500163%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Fsaskatoon%2Fmayor-of-ottawa-demands-apology-after-sask-conservative-mps-senator-take-picture-at-convoy-protest-1.6337951
 | publisher     = [[Twitter]]
 | date          = 2022-02-02
 | access-date   = 2022-06-03
}}</ref> along with Waugh, [[Battlefords-Lloydminster]] MP [[Rosemarie Falk]], [[Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan]] MP [[Fraser Tolmie]], [[Regina-Lewvan]] MP [[Warren Steinley]] and [[Senate of Canada|Sen]]. [[Denise Batters]] standing with the [[Flag of Saskatchewan|Saskatchewan flag]] at the [[Freedom Convoy 2022]].<ref name="protest">{{cite web|title=Mayor of Ottawa demands apology after Sask. Conservative MPs, senator take picture at convoy protest|year=2022|publisher=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/mayor-of-ottawa-demands-apology-after-sask-conservative-mps-senator-take-picture-at-convoy-protest-1.6337951|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref> The mayor of [[Ottawa]], [[Jim Watson (Canadian politician)|Jim Watson]], demanded an apology, as he felt the protesters actions are not welcomed and that "MPs and senator in the picture should know better."<ref name="protest" />

He endorsed [[Pierre Poilievre]]'s campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party in the [[2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2022 Conservative leadership election]]. On September 13, 2022, Poilievre, as leader of the Conservative Party, appointed Scheer to become [[Opposition House Leader]].

On May 6, 2025, Scheer became leader of the opposition for a second time after Poilievre lost his seat of [[Carleton (Ontario federal electoral district)|Carleton]] following the [[2025 Canadian federal election|2025 election]], as the leader of the opposition must be an incumbent MP.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Sarah |date=2025-05-06 |title=Conservatives choose Andrew Scheer as interim Opposition leader |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-conservative-caucus-meeting-1.7527562 |access-date=2025-05-07 |work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]}}</ref> He is expected to relinquish the position should Poilievre return to Parliament by winning a by-election in [[Battle River—Crowfoot]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Major |first=Darren |date=2025-05-07 |title=Scheer doesn't seem keen to move into Stornoway, but says talks are 'ongoing' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/andrew-scheer-pierre-poilievre-stornoway-talks-official-opposition-1.7529175 |website=CBC}}</ref>