Conservative leader Scheer gearing up for 2019 election

Saskatoon is full of Liberals this week as the party convenes there for the party’s caucus retreat.

Among other things, the party elite will be talking about their battle plan for the federal election next year.

Not to be outdone, Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer, whose home riding is in Regina, spoke to Gormley about his plans for the coming election.

He said he’s ready to make the 2019 election a referendum on the carbon tax – which the Conservative Party is staunchly against.

“Canadians don’t need a new tax. A carbon tax is just another source of revenue for the federal government.”

Scheer said he’s encouraged in his position against the tax as he watches elections across the country.

“When voters are given that clear option they are supporting parties, conservative parties, that are opposed to it.”

He specifically pointed to the election of Doug Ford in Ontario.

Turning to the Liberals, Scheer told Gormley the federal government’s, as he called it, inability to get a pipeline built is frustrating.

“Every time Justin Trudeau fails to do something he always blames other people and he always tries to say that he’s just as mad as everybody else, he never actually gets anything done.”

Scheer also said he wants to have Energy East back on the table. Last fall, TransCanada announced it would not be proceeding with the pipeline project.

Gormley asked Scheer whether he was being tough enough on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. While Scheer sounded amused at the question and pointed to clips of him in Question Period, Scheer also said that it’s not all about beating up on your opponent.

“There are many people who can be loud and belligerent, but if you’re not being thoughtful and you’re convincing the next 10 per cent of the electorate that we have to get to vote for us to form the government then you’re not going to achieve anything.”

Scheer felt he’s doing a good job getting out to talk to voters, saying that if your whole strategy is being outraged all the time and not putting in the work of winning people over, then that’s not the right way to go.