Local MP Likes Choice Of New Tory Leader

North Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative MP Mel Arnold is happy with the choice of Andrew Scheer as the party’s new leader.

Arnold had been backing Erin O’Toole but says Scheer was his next choice.

“He’s a younger politician but he still has experience in the House, definitely knows that
we need to attract the younger generation.”

Arnold is confident that Scheer’s experience as part of a big team and Speaker of the House of Commons will bode well for bringing the Conservative party together.

Much has been made of the social-conservative support Andrew Scheer garnered during the leadership campaign.

In particular his stance on abortion and same-sex marriage.

But Arnold says there’s more to him than what Liberals have said.

“He had support right across the country. He’s stated that he wants the party to be the big tent picture where everyone feels included”

Arnold says when Scheer visited his team early last year, they like what they heard from him and has some good ideas for a new direction.

“Andrew’s also going to have a different tone than we had in the previous government. It’s going to be interesting just to see how he lays that out and how people are going to fall in behind him.”

Arnold says it’s interesting how some media have compared Scheer to a young Stephen Harper.

He says Scheer has his own tone, has a comedy side to him and is fun to be around.

Arnold calls him personable and genuine