In a statement released Thursday, the Liberals said Andrew Scheer has been “fundamentally dishonest with Canadians about who he is.”
“Scheer’s hidden his core personal positions, he hid facts about his career and education, and now he’s been caught hiding his American citizenship even while ridiculing others for holding dual citizenship,” the statement reads.
“Andrew Scheer isn’t telling Canadians who he really is. How can Canadians trust him when he talks about what he’ll do, including what he’ll cut?”
The Globe and Mail first reported on Scheer’s U.S. citizenship on Thursday. When asked why he never told anyone about his dual citizenship, Scheer replied: “No one’s ever asked me before.”
On the dual citizenship (which I could care less about) it’s not just the obvious hypocrisy with Scheer & the Conservatives
Stephane Dion and Tom Mulcair didnt hide their citizenship until 2 weeks before the election- they were open about it.
It’s a weird thing to hide #elxn43
— Rob Silver (@RobSilver) October 3, 2019
If Scheer is truly honest, his dual citizenship should have come up somewhere in his biography. Now is the time for Scheer to start talking about every other thing he want Canadians to ask him.
Scheer was also questioned about why he waited until the eve of the election to begin the process of renouncing his citizenship.
“I was focused on other things,” he said. “I was rebuilding the party, getting ready for the election, working on the platform. It was always my intention do it before the election.”
Andrew Scheer had 14 years to renounce his US citizenship since he started criticising other people for having a dual citizenship. That’s 14 years during which Scheer was working within walking distance of the US embassy.#cdnpoli #elxn43
— Asif Hossain (@asifintoronto) October 3, 2019
In 2015, then-Conservative Leader Stephen harper blasted then-NDP leader Thomas Mulcair for holding onto his dual French citizenship. “I’m very clear. I’m a Canadian and only a Canadian,” he said at the time.
Must watch! 👀 @TJHisLaw absolutely nails it tonight on #pnpcbc! What else is Scheer lying about, or hiding? #ScheerHypocrisy #cdnpoli #elxn43 pic.twitter.com/Hg2waTQbhf
— Tom H (@humourme1234) October 3, 2019
Scheer claim he had a degree from University of Regina. Not really, He lied.
He claimed he was an insurance broker. No, he was not, He lied.
When asked why he never told anyone about his dual citizenship, Scheer replied: “No one’s ever asked me before.” That’s weird.
According to the Elections Act, there aren’t any rules prohibiting dual citizens from running as MPs and the same rules apply to those running for prime minister.
The Conservatives have been critical of other leaders’ citizenship status in the past, however.
Scheer himself questioned former Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean’s French citizenship in an August 2005 blog post, in which he said he has a “few quick questions” about her appointment:
“Does it bother you that she is a dual citizen (France and Canada)? Would it bother you if instead of French citizenship, she held U.S. citizenship?”
Jean renounced her French citizenship before taking office in September 2005.
During the 2008 federal election campaign, Stephane Dion also faced questions from Conservatives about his French citizenship. Dion had received the citizenship through his French-born mother.
