Andrew Scheer Resigns As Conservative Leader

By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED December 12, 2019 5:05pmET

WATCH Andrew Scheer's speech and reaction from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other party leaders:

Andrew Scheer is resigning as Conservative leader, saying he wants to put his family first. But were other factors at play?

"This was not a decision I came to lightly," Scheer said in the House of Commons after delivering the news to caucus.

"It was one I came to after many long, hard conversations with friends and family over the past two months since the election campaign."

"It has been an incredible challenge for our family to keep up with the pace that is required to lead a caucus and a party into a general election, and my wife Jill has been absolutely heroic. However, in order to chart the course ahead, this party and this movement need someone who can give 100% to the effort. After some conversations with my kids and loved ones, I felt it was time to put my family first."

"I just informed my colleagues in the Conservative caucus that I will be resigning as the leader of the Conservative Party of Cda...& I will be asking the Conserv. Party natl council to immed. begin the process of organizing a leadership contest," Andrew Scheer announces #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/hwupolQa6E
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) December 12, 2019

Scheer faced an automatic leadership review at April's Conservative convention and has been criticized for his campaign performance, even though the party gained 26 seats and the won the popular vote.

Scheer told the House of Commons that he would remain the MP for Regina--Qu'Appelle, Sask. -- and remain leader until his successor is chosen.

"The party we've all built together is far too important for one individual," Andrew Scheer says in the House. "As our party embarks on this exciting opportunity, electing a new leader, my only ask to my fellow Conservatives is this: let's stay united." #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Sw2ZdEo5gS
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) December 12, 2019

Although Scheer cited family concerns, reports also connected his decision to a revelation that Conservative party funds were being used to pay for his children's private schooling.

That led Conservative executive director Dustin Van Vugt to release a statement Thursday afternoon:

As is the normal practice for political parties, the Party offered to reimburse some of the costs associated with being a national leader and re-locating the family to Ottawa. Shortly after Mr. Scheer was elected leader, we had a meeting where I made a standard offer to cover costs associated with moving his family from Regina to Ottawa. This includes a differential in schooling costs between Regina and Ottawa. All proper procedures were followed and signed off on by the appropriate people.

The 40-year-old former House speaker narrowly won the Conservative leadership in 2017 after a 13-ballot contest with Maxime Bernier.

In Scheer's first election as leader, the Conservative caucus grew from 95 to 121 thanks mainly to gains in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. But the party lost support in the riding-rich Greater Toronto Area, and more widely across Ontario and Quebec.

Former cabinet minister John Baird was appointed to review the Conservative campaign. And Scheer faced an automatic leadership review vote at this spring's convention in Toronto; a simple majority vote would trigger a leadership race.