'Real Conservative' Andrew Scheer enters leadership race

Saskatchewan MP Andrew Scheerhas madeit official: he's filed his papers and paid his first $25,000 registration fee to runfor the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Ten MPs lined up behind him as he appeared in the National Press Theatre to launch his bid, a subset of the 20 MPs and senators he says are endorsing him.

Of those, only one senator is not from Western Canada, but Scheer says his campaign enjoys support from across the country.

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His campaign, he said, would focus on his ability to unite Conservatives across the country around the common goals that help win elections.

"Wedon't always win when we areunited, but we always lose when weare divided," he said.

He said heoffereda fresh approach and anew leadership style with an "emphasis on a positive vision."He spoke about his ability to "connect with a broader audience while keeping faith with those who have supported the party over the years."

He also declared himself "a real Conservative" who believes in thefree market,low taxes,family values and protecting victims in the criminaljustice system.

"I cannot let JustinTrudeaudo to my children what his father did to my generation," he said.

"Those who voted Conservative in 2015 were not wrong," he said, but"we have to speak more about what motivates us as Conservatives." That means a focusnot on intentions, but results, he said.

To representthe party's "bedrock" but alsoconnect with a new generation of voters "Conservatives have to be more than just Liberals who are good at math," he said.

20 endorsements announced

The former Speaker of the House of Commonsstepped down earlier this monthfrom his role as opposition House leaderin order to get ready for his leadership bid.

His campaign released this list of MPs and senators who are endorsing his candidacy:

• Alberta MPZiadAboultaif
• Alberta MPJohnBarlow
• SaskatchewanSenator Denise Batters
• Saskatchewan MPKelly Block
• Alberta MPJimEglinski
• Manitoba MPTedFalk
• Alberta MPGarnettGenuis
• Alberta MP MattJeneroux
• Saskatchewan MPTomLukiwski
• Alberta MPKelly McCauley
• Saskatchewan MPGerry Ritz
• Alberta MPKevinSorenson
• B.C. Mark Strahl
• Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs
• Saskatchewan SenatorDavidTkachuk
• Alberta MPArnoldViersen
• Saskatchewan MPCathayWagantall
• B.C. MP Mark Warawa
• Newfoundland and Labrador SenatorDavid Wells
• B.C. MPBob Zimmer

Scheer, 37, isone of the few candidates in the race who is functionally bilingual. He was born in Ottawa but moved to Saskatchewan to be with his wife, Jill, with whom he has five children. He has represented a Saskatchewan riding since 2004.

He began hisremarks Wednesday in French.

Asked about his second-language skills, he paid tribute to his former French immersion teacher at Ottawa's Immaculata High School for making him stick with it.

It's essential for the next leader to be able to communicate with Quebecers, he said.

However, he has not yet received endorsements from any Quebec MPs or senators. Scheer said it's still early in the race.

Middle-class Quebec voters have much in common with Conservatives, he said, such as valuing decentralized government and low taxes.

Won't 'reopen the debate'

Reporters asked about his support for causes dear to social conservatives, such as the anti-abortion movement.

Scheer said the focus of his candidacy is theunity of the party and the caucus, which remains divided on some of these matters.

"It's not up to me to reopen the debate on these issues."

He would, however, protect the right of his caucus colleagues to speak aboutwhat'simportant to them. With a grin, he mentioneda "wise" ruling of hisin the last Parliament when he wasSpeakerabout therightof MPs tomake statements on any subject they wish.

Scheer was also asked about two recent controversies in the leadership race.

On fellow competitor Kellie Leitch'scontroversial suggestion to screen immigrants for "anti-Canadian values,"Scheer said he didn't think such screening would be practical.

He said the party needs to maintain its image as a "positive party that accepts and celebrates the contributions that new Canadians have made to this country."

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Scheer was also asked about allegations that emerged Wednesday about the new Conservative deputy House leader Chris Warkentinpreventing Brad Trostwho also intends to make a leadership bidfrom making a statement in the House of Commons calling on Guy Giorno, Stephen Harper's former chief of staff, to repay taxpayers for relocation expenses incurredin 2008.

Trost and Giorno are having a public feud over whether political staff should receive such benefits.Trostcomplained of being muzzled by someone who was backing another leadership candidate.

"Chris is a friend," Scheer said, but Warkentinis not on hislist of public endorsements.