Pierre Poilievre’s decision to select Andrew Scheer as the interim opposition leader shows that he does not want any competition in the temporary job that he would like to fill permanently following an Alberta byelection.
By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on June 2, 2025.
OTTAWA—Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman did not look very happy when she rose to applaud her new opposition leader Andrew Scheer last week.
Who can blame her? She has done a lot of the heavy lifting as Pierre Poilievre’s deputy leader. Instead of rewarding her with the opposition leader appointment, he chose a failed former leader.
The decision certainly reinforced the image of the Conservative party as an old boys’ club. The choice is in keeping with the party’s demographic in the House of Commons.
The Tories didn’t even reach 20 per cent mark when it came to the success of women in the election. The 26 women in the caucus represent less than 19 per cent of the total team.
The choice of Lantsman would have sent a message that women play an important role in the party.
Instead, the selection of Scheer shows that Poilievre does not want any competition in the temporary job that he would like to fill permanently following an Alberta byelection.
Scheer has already been replaced as leader in a previous time, so is not likely to present any danger to the status of Poilievre as head honcho.
That status is not so solid as some would have us believe. The Conservative caucus is the only group to vote in favour of a proposed system proposed by MP Michael Chong where a majority of members can kick a leader out without the bother of having to go to a party convention.
In an effort to shore up support, Poilievre named a shadow cabinet that was three times larger than the government cabinet.
In that instance, he also ignored the principle of gender parity that was embraced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in the formation of his new cabinet.
Poilievre’s shadow cabinet includes 21 per cent women in a 74-person roster of official party critics.
A notable star that was not included in the group was Jamil Jivani. Jivani was billed as one of Poilievre’s personal choices when Jivani ran to replace Erin O’Toole in a byelection.
Jivani has previously advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and is well-connected to the United States administration via his former university friend, American Vice-President JD Vance.
On the night of the election, Jivani emerged from defeat to attack Ford and blame the Ontario Conservatives for the federal loss.
That didn’t sit well with colleagues who felt that the knives should not be pointed inward.
Jivani’s absence from the 74-person shadow cabinet raised some eyebrows, as did his decision to table a private member’s bill banning all temporary foreign workers from entering Canada.
Jivani has also launched a petition, which could be a tool to identify future leadership supporters.
Chances are that we will be seeing Jivani’s name on a future Conservative leadership ballot.
When Poilievre opted for Scheer instead of Lantsman as Opposition leader in the House, he opened the door to her defection, as well. His caucus now holds his future in their hands.
The process to replace a leader is entitled the Reform Act, and empowers the majority of caucus to remove a leader by a secret-ballot vote.
Each party must vote on whether to employ the act at the beginning of every new Parliament.
The Liberals declined to adopt the process at their caucus meeting last week, preferring to solve challenges in private through internal discussion.
A caucus vote would likely have seen then-prime minister Justin Trudeau leave much sooner than he did, but it also means that the party membership has no say in what happens.
In Britain, the system has led to a leadership revolving door for successive governments.
Poilievre will now be subject to constant internal caucus review. The leader’s survival until the next federal election is not guaranteed.
Meanwhile, Jivani is working hard to build his own political identity.
Lantsman may not follow in Jivani’s footsteps, but she could view Scheer’s appointment as enough of a snub to nurture her own future leadership ambitions.
She has proven her capacity both in the House of Commons, and on the campaign trail.
Poilievre is definitely riding a Conservative popularity wave today, but six months is a lifetime in politics.
Poilievre may not be leading the Conservatives into the next election.
Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.
