Canada's Conservatives Elect New Party Leader

   

   Canada's Conservatives have chosen Andrew Scheer as their  new leader to take them into the next federal election.

    Scheer a former House of Commons speaker beat 12 other contestants in a razor-thin victory.

   He emerged as the winner on the thirteenth ballot in the leadership contest, narrowly defeating his primary rival, former foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier, with 51% of the vote.
   According to reports, Scheer will lead the party against Justin Trudeau's Liberals in 2019.
   Speaking  to party faithful gathered in Toronto yesterday,  Scheer offered a message of unity to the party built 14 years ago on a coalition of progressive, populist and social conservatives.