Andrew Scheer to keep leadership rivals close with shadow cabinet roles coming Wednesday

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer will name his shadow cabinet Wednesday, giving top leadership rival Maxime Bernier a key role just not the one he wanted, CBC News has learned.

Bernier publicly campaigned for the role of finance critic, telling the Globe and Mail in July, "I hope that I can be the finance critic. That will be an interesting role for me and an important role. I'm ready to take that challenge."

But a senior Conservative source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CBC News that Bernierwill instead be named critic for Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED).

ISED is the second-largest portfolio in government, with the aerospace industry beinga key part of its mandate. During the Conservative leadership race,Bernierwas outspoken in his criticism of the Liberal government's financial bailout of Bombardier.

The Conservative source said Erin O'Toole, who finished third in leadership race, will take on the foreign affairs critic role, while Quebec MP Gerard Deltell will shadowthe Treasury Board and British Columbia MP Dan Albas will cover small business.

'Shadow ministers'

Scheer will also introduce new language for his inner circle, styling his key MPs as "shadow ministers" instead of usingthe traditional term "critic."

Other appointments include Alberta MPs Shannon Stubbs, who will cover Natural Resources, and Rachel Harder, who takes on Status of Women. Ontario MP Alex Nuttall willhandleYouth, Sport and Disability, and Quebec MP Luc Berthold will be agriculture critic.

The remaining critic roles including Finance, Immigration and Health will be introduced Wednesday afternoon bynews release.

The team will join Scheer's closest allies, including Lisa Raitt, who was named deputy leader last month, and Candice Bergen, who is keeping her role as House leader.

The source said the team represents a "united front" following the party's close leadership race, adding the MPs selected are "ambitious and energetic."

Scheer'steamis hoping that by using the term shadow minister instead of critic, it will make it easier for Canadians toenvision what a Conservative government would look likeif successful in the next election.

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer to unveil shadow cabinet Wednesday

7 years ago

Duration 7:58

Power Panel - Rick, Yolande, and Robin weigh in

Khadr, 'local' business tax, asylum seekers

When Parliament resumes sitting later next month, the Conservatives plan to drill down on three key issues: the government pay-out to Omar Khadr, changes that curtail "income sprinkling" among business owners or what the Conservatives will call "local" business taxes recently introduced by the finance minister, and the surge of asylum seekers crossing the border from the United States.

To that end, the senior Conservative expects Scheer's first question to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when the House of Commons returns will be aboutthe $10.5-million payment to Khadr.