Conservative MPs anxious to name a new leader after challenging week for Scheer

OTTAWA-Get on with it.

That's the message some Conservative MPs and activists are sending the party brass, anxious to resolve the party's now-suspended leadership contest by the end of summer.

The restlessness among some in the Conservative caucus grew this week, after a widely criticized performance from outgoing leader Andrew Scheer.

On Monday, Scheer continued to push for in-person sittings of the House of Commons. However, one MP said Scheer's focus on the number of sittings of the House, one day after the worst mass shooting in Canadian history unfolded in Nova Scotia, seemed out of touch.

"People didn't f-ing care," said the MP, who spoke on the condition they not be named to discuss internal party matters.

On Thursday, Scheer refused to comment on leadership candidate Derek Sloan's questioning of top public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam's loyalty to Canada, even as others in the party decried Sloan's comments.

Scheer announced in December he would resign after his successor was chosen, ending weeks of internal party strife after October's disappointing federal election loss. The Conservative caucus allowed Scheer to stay on in the interim. At the time, a new leader was expected to be elected within months.

But after initially sticking to the June 27 vote, the party's leadership election organizing committee (LEOC) indefinitely suspended the vote last month. It's now unclear when Scheer's successor will be chosen.

Multiple Conservative sources who spoke to the Star pointed to the difficult situation Scheer is in - continuing to lead the party through an unprecedented time in Canadian politics, despite announcing his intention to step down five months ago.

Thornhill MP Peter Kent dismissed the criticism levelled against Scheer for focusing on "accountability sessions" in the House of Commons. Kent said the Conservatives made a credible case for the need for more scrutiny of the Liberal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But while Kent praised Scheer's leadership, he said the party must move quickly to put a permanent leader in place.

"I think Andrew has been a solid and responsible leader of the official opposition in a very difficult time where there is a limbo regarding the leadership," Kent said.

"We need to see to that as soon as is practically and responsibly possible."

While most MPs remain holed up in their constituencies, the Conservatives have been holding weekly caucus meetings over Zoom. Regional caucuses have also been meeting regularly.

One source told the Star that was largely supportive of Scheer's push to bring back the House of Commons. Now that parties have agreed to regular meetings over the coming weeks, another caucus member said, MPs are putting renewed urgency on the leadership question.

The organizing committee is scheduled to meet next Friday to discuss the timeline for reopening the leadership race, largely viewed as a two-way contest between former cabinet ministers Peter MacKay and Erin O'Toole.

While the committee has maintained a May 15 deadline to sign up new members eligible to vote in the leadership, there has been no indication when the vote will be rescheduled.

"LEOC will continue to monitor developments and meet regularly to discuss options," party spokesperson Cory Hann wrote in a statement to the Star.

Hann said the committee will "do a fulsome re-evaluation of the dates and times needed to complete the race under the obligations of the party's constitution."

Alex Boutilier is an Ottawa-based reporter covering national politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @alexboutilier