The seats had been pre-stocked with bold ‘Andrew Scheer’ signs for faithful party members to wield at the Alberta UCP’s annual convention in Calgary. Once the Chinese dragon dancers and O’Canada singers cleared the stage, Scheer took the podium to defend his job. As Scheer faces a looming leadership review vote in April, he talked about little else..After presenting himself as a moderate, centre-right Tory in October, Scheer put forward the case to UCP members that he was their fire-breathing, conservative crusader in November. He was there to assure the home team that he was still their man, and that he hadn’t spent too much time around fancy people in Ottawa..“Some people ask, ‘why are you still fighting? Why don’t you give up?'”.Scheer’s answer to the question he posed to himself was clear. He is the only thing holding the big blue tent together..“The Laurentian elites” want him gone. “Justin Trudeau” wants him gone. “The CBC” wants him gone. No actual conservatives want him gone..Scheer clearly and repeatedly equated loyalty to the party with loyalty to himself. Nearing the end of his pitch, he even went so far as to imply that anyone that wants new leadership for the Tories was working for Justin Trudeau..“Those trying to tear our party apart are Justin Trudeau’s allies!”.Scheer has every right to fight to keep his job and rally party members behind him, but accusing a chorus of voices – including a large contingent of Stephen Harper’s former senior staff – of collusion with Justin Trudeau is a bit much..While party unity and leadership loyalty were the big themes of the evening, he also equated support for his leadership with national unity, for which he had a stronger case. He skewered Trudeau for dividing Canada, and leaving many Westerners wondering if the country was still for them anymore..“Division isn’t a result of Justin Trudeau’s plan. Division is Justin Trudeau’s plan!”.“The problem isn’t Canada. The problem is Justin Trudeau!”.“Only a united Conservative Party can keep a united Canada.”.In that last one, Scheer implied pretty strongly that without support for his leadership of the Tories, that Canada itself is at risk of breaking up..Scheer’s supporters in the room ate it up. During the obligatory standing ovations that accompany any leader’s convention speech, most stood and applauded vigorously. A number remained seated, or clapped politely and obligingly. A few walked out in protest..Scheer had most of the room on his side, but in politics, most people are willing to smile through their teeth while they hold a dagger behind their backs. How many smiles were genuine or not is hard to tell, but several Conservative operatives discussing their zeal to oust Scheer with me hours earlier, were among those standing and clapping dutifully.. Trudeau on WE scandal: Case closed .Scheer got a warm public reception in the Conservative Capital of Canada Friday night. The private reception he gets when the delegates begin their long night of beers will be more telling..Derek Fildebrandt is Publisher of the Western Standard and President of Wildrose Media Corp..publisher@westernstandardonline.com
