Andrew Scheer wins Regina riding, Tories stay on as official opposition

REGINA – It’s not the title Andrew Scheer was hoping for but the Conservative leader was re-elected as a member of parliament in his Regina-Qu’Appelle riding.

Supporters cheered as it was declared that he’d again claimed the seat. He’s held the Regina-Qu’Appelle seat since 2004.

“Even though I’m disappointed tonight, I’m incredibly proud,” Scheer said as he addressed party faithful at the Regina party headquarters. “We knew this was never going to be easy, but nothing worth achieving ever is.”

Putting the cheer in Scheer wins …his seat. pic.twitter.com/0GpKdkjynh

— Tara Overholt (@CityTara) October 22, 2019

He went on to say he was proud of the Conservative showing and the bigger, stronger team the party will be sending to Ottawa.

The Liberals were declared victorious Monday. Scheer said he called Liberal leader Justin Trudeau to congratulate him on winning the most seats. But Scheer told his party, which will form the official opposition again, not to be discouraged.

“Remember, friends, what happened in 2016. It was predicted that Justin Trudeau would govern the country for 10 to 12 years. But tonight we have put him on notice! His leadership is damaged and his government will end soon. And when that time comes the Conservatives will be ready,” he said.

FULL SPEECH: Scheer credits his party for preventing consecutive Liberal majority

“This is how it starts. This is the first step. And now we are heading back to Ottawa with a much bigger team, with more support from coast to coast and with an endorsement from the Canadian people that we are the government-in-waiting.”

He also told his party that the story of his Tories is “just beginning”.

“Let’s remember this feeling–coming close but falling just short–and let’s use it as fuel to re-double our efforts because our work is not over. Canadians are counting on us.”

 

–Megan McPhaden, Cole Fortner, Sean Marks, and Dawson Enns contributed to this report.