Scheer defends silence on American citizenship during Halifax stop: ‘I was never asked’

HALIFAX—During his first campaign stop in the Halifax area, federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said he’s never commented publicly about his dual American-Canadian citizenship because he simply hasn’t been asked.

Scheer greeted supporters and Nova Scotian Conservative candidates during an event Thursday evening at the May Garden Chinese restaurant in Bedford.

Earlier on Thursday, Scheer’s campaign confirmed that the Conservative leader is a citizen of both Canada and the United States, but is in the process of renouncing his American citizenship, which he received through his father.

In the past, Scheer had criticized former Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean’s dual French and Canadian citizenship, and on Thursday reporters asked how he could have taken that stance when he held the same status.

Scheer said he only asked his constituents about their thoughts on the issue through a 2005 blog post.

The Conservatives have long been critical about other politicians with dual citizenship while Scheer has been in government, including when former prime minister Stephen Harper targeted former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff for spending much of his academic career in the U.S.

Although reporters asked why Scheer wouldn’t mention his status from the public when his party leader was condemning others for the same thing, he said, “I was never asked about it.”

Scheer said he’s been “very honest” about his parents’ backgrounds and “like millions of Canadians” he has one parent born in Canada and the other born in another country.

The Conservative leader said he first met with American embassy officials in August to begin the process to renounce his citizenship. When asked why he waited so long, Scheer said he was focused on other things like building the party and getting ready for the election.

When asked if Scheer will have finished this process by the time he takes office, if he wins the election, he said he’s waiting on confirmation from the embassy but “that is certainly the intention.”’

Scheer was introduced by local Conservative candidate Fred Shuman for Halifax West, who is vying for the seat in a Liberal stronghold. The riding is currently held by long-time Liberal MP and Speaker of the House of Commons, Geoff Regan. But when asked about his party’s chances locally, Scheer said there are “lots of seats” across Atlantic Canada he’s confident will turn Conservative.

He added the reason they stopped in Bedford on Thursday was geography: he wanted to hold an event where “we could be accessible for as many ridings as we possibly could” and where space was available.

During his speech before a crowd of around 300 people, Scheer blasted Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s ethics and the federal carbon tax. If elected, Scheer has long said his government would scrap that tax.

However, Nova Scotia has not opted into the carbon tax plan as the province has a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

When asked by the Star Halifax how the Conservative’s climate change plan would impact Nova Scotians given that carbon tax isn’t in practice, Scheer said the Conservatives’ plan will allow provincial governments the “flexibility” they need where some governments will choose cap-and-trade while others could decide on other methods.

He also said his party’s plan for the environment has many aspects that will apply to N.S., including stopping the dumping of raw sewage into rivers, lakes and oceans.

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For his part, Shuman said he feels his chances as a Conservative candidate are “very good” against Regan, who was Speaker of the House of Commons as the last session of Parliament ended.

He said by Regan taking a “promotion” to become House speaker, he put himself in a “precarious position” about representing the riding because Regan wasn’t able to express any opinions.

“I feel that the constituents here in Halifax West are actually getting short-changed by having the member being the Speaker of the House,” Shuman said.

“I wouldn’t take a position as Speaker of the House.”

Shuman’s own party leader spent four years as the youngest speaker of the House of Commons. Scheer served in the position from 2011-2015.

Scheer also clarified his personal opinions about abortion Thursday, saying he’s “pro-life” but maintains he would not reopen the debate around abortion if he becomes prime minister.

The Conservative leader’s comments came a day after his rivals accused him of having an “ambiguous” stance on abortion during a French-language debate hosted by TVA Wednesday night.

When asked about his reaction to his leader’s stance, Shuman said that’s exactly what the party has said from the beginning.

“I am so surprised that you folks continue to bring up that issue. It’s a dead issue, it’s something that he has said, and every other candidate has said. We’re not bringing that issue up,” Shuman said.

Two other federal leaders have stopped into Halifax during this election campaign: Jagmeet Singh of the NDP visited a North End coffee shop before a public Q&A at a Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campus on Sept.23.

Green leader Elizabeth May was in town two days later, visiting a local candidate’s office before meeting supporters at the Via Rail station downtown.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau is now the only major party leader who has not made a campaign stop in the Halifax area this election.