The Conservative leadership race came to a close late last month, with Saskatchewan’s Andrew Scheer walking away with the victory.
Member of Parliament for Souris — Moose Mountain Robert Kitchen couldn’t be happier with the results, saying Scheer is a man who can hold the party together.
“Andrew Scheer is going to be a great leader; he’s going to provide excellent leadership and I’m looking forward to that,” said Kitchen.
“He brings a lot to the table. He brings youth; he’s a very vibrant and intelligent man. He’s a family man, so he brings that as well and he brings strong conservative values that are respected and he’s recognized all across the country . . . and I think that bodes well for him.”
Kitchen attended the leadership convention, which happened on May 27 in Toronto, and noted how packed the hall was, with only standing room due to people from all across Canada showing up to be part of the action.
“If you didn’t get there early enough, you didn’t get a seat,” he said, adding as soon as he saw the first ballot come down he was confident Scheer was going to win the race.
He said he could see Scheer’s momentum building and closing the gap as time got closer to the final count, until the new party leader finally got over the hurdle with the last vote.
Even though Scheer is fairly young at 38-years-old, Kitchen is still confident the man’s up to the job and added Scheer comes with experience, unlike Prime Minister Trudeau, who Kitchen said is limited in that regard.
The new leader still has many years in the political area under his belt, including a good stint as Speaker of the House, which the MP considers a tremendous asset.
“I think the role of the Speaker is one who is there to allow for equal debate, but at the same time keeping order and control within the house,” Kitchen said.
“That’s one of the things I think he will bring to the role as our new leader, being able to do that; allow for debate on issues, allow people to express their opinions, but at the same time, knowing how to control and keep things in such that we’re all on the same page and fighting out for our constituents, fighting those taxes that are being dumped on us and trying to bring that to the attention of this present government.”
Kitchen also predicts Scheer will be the next Prime Minister, which would make him the second to come out of Saskatchewan, and said he has little doubt the man will follow in the footsteps of John Diefenbaker.
The new party leader knows politics, Kitchen said, and is strong on issues important to the Souris — Moose Mountain riding, including things like the carbon tax the Liberals are going to put in place.
His understanding of Saskatchewan values is a point of admiration for Kitchen, and he likes the fact Scheer can speak well for local constituents.
“He understands what my farmers in my constituency are experiencing and what the impact that carbon tax is going to have on them, as well as that he looks at coal and how that’s creating our energy sources in Saskatchewan and he recognizes the great work Sask Power has done with the carbon capture and how that is a benefit to protecting the environment,” Kitchen said.
