Federal Tory Leader Andrew Scheer has stepped down as the party boss. The Western Standard has assembled the unofficial list of candidates to replace him.. 10. Candice Bergen. Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .The MP for Portage-Lisgar since 2008 has slowly worked her way up from the backbenches to become the Tory House Leader and a Question Period star. She has a cutting wit for the camera and represents a younger generation of conservative women, but would likely lack the organizational and fundraising capacity to make a serious run..9. Pierre Poilievre . Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .First elected at age 25 in the Ottawa area riding of Carleton, the Calgary native grew out of his nickname “Skippy” to become a junior minister in the Harper government. Since then, he’s excelled as Tory Finance Critic under Scheer and has developed a razor-sharp style of questioning that has had Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau squirming in his seat more than once. .A political animal, Poilievre is fluently bilingual and may surprise the bookies. .8. Erin O’Toole. Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .Erin O’Toole ran a strong third to Andrew Scheer and Maxime Bernier in the 2017 Tory leadership race, making his support critical to the eventual winner. With unexpectedly strong caucus support, he proved a capable organizer and a force to be reckoned with. .His strong base with caucus and in the Ontario PC Party would make him a force again.. 7. John Baird. Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .First elected as an Ontario MPP in 1995 under Mike Harris’s Common-Sense Revolution, John Baird served as a senior cabinet minister before going on to become one of Stephen Harper’s chief lieutenants. Baird developed a reputation as a combative and skilled politician, but quit politics at the top of his game in 2015. .He’s been cooling his heels in the private sector ever since, but a Baird run could prove decisive in all-important Ontario..6. Peter McKay. Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .Peter McKay will be on every potential Tory leadership shortlist so long as he breaths. Having stepped aside for the first federal Conservative leadership race in 2004, many viewed it as “his turn” when it came time to replace Harper in 2017. It was widely speculated that he didn’t run in 2017 because Trudeau seemed unbeatable at the time, but such hang-ups may not exist now. .McKay would be an instant front-runner with his long-time PC connections, Atlantic base, and credibility as a high-preforming cabinet minister. .5. Maxime Bernier. Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .Yes, crazy idea. Not going to happen. But it’s worth consideration. Mad Max nearly won the Tory crown once and would have taken it (and his Beauce seat) had it not been for the Dairy Cartel. .Bernier certainly angered many a Conservative partisan when he decamped for the upstart People’s Party, but he is doubtless the standard-bearer of Canada’s new populist right. .It might seem implausible, but Max is known for dramatic surprises..4. Michelle Rempel . Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .The Calgary-Nose Hill MP has steadily risen to become the most recognizable federal politician in Alberta post Harper and Kenney. She’s effectively used social media to build her profile with rank-and-file activists and is an obsessive organizer and campaigner. .Rempel sat out the last Tory leadership race entirely – one of the few MPs to not even endorse a candidate – perhaps to season herself, and keep her powder dry. Her appeal would be both regional as a Westerner, but also as a young and bold woman that could appeal to voters less traditionally inclined to vote Conservative. .3. Jason Kenney. Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .Alberta’s recently elected premier will deny it until he’s Tory blue in the face, but he has a hard time shaking off the belief by many that he still has designs on Ottawa. Kenney is without a doubt a formidable and tireless campaigner, and has deep connections with Conservative members in every corner of the country and in ethnic communities. .But having just taken on Alberta’s top job and with the entirety of his adult life spent in politics, a move back to Ottawa could appear a cynical career move. .2. Rona Ambrose. Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .Even before Scheer’s October loss, Conservatives gathered everywhere could be heard whispering “Why didn’t Rona run?” The reason was pretty good: as interim-leader, she wasn’t allowed to. .In her time at the helm though, she proved a competent leader and compassionate communicator. Her stock has only risen with time and she would be hard to beat..1. Brad Wall. Top 10 Replacements for Scheer .The Western Wall unavoidably must top any Conservative leadership list. Doing what few politicians manage to do and quit while he was ahead, Wall consistently ranked as the most popular premier in Canada while he was Saskatchewan boss. Wall would be able to count on a massive Western base – especially if Ambrose and Kenney stayed out – but he would be the second Saskatchewanian leader in a row, a point that counted against potential Ambrose and Kenney runs last time. Further, his staunch defence of the West would likely prove unpopular east of the Lakehead. .Less conventional dreamers in the West imagine as prime minister. Just not one in Ottawa.
