Andrew Scheer met 5 undecided Canadian voters. Here's what happened

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer sat down today with five undecided voters from across the country to answer questions about how he would tackle the issues that matter most to them.

The exchange was the second instalment of The National Presents: Face to Face with the Federal Party Leaders — a CBC News feature that gives five undecided voters five minutes each to grill one of the four federal party leaders.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's turn in the hot seat came Monday evening.

One of the undecided voters — Genna Evelyn, a 35-year-old married immigration lawyer with a two-year-old child and a second on the way — said she wants to give the Conservatives a chance but has concerns about how her vision of a welcoming and open Canada might differ from Scheer's.

• Watch The National Presents: Face to Face With the Federal Party Leaders on CBC News Network, CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App (iOS or Android) or CBC Gem at 8 p.m. ET, followed by highlights on The National at  9 p.m. ET on CBC News Network, and at 10 p.m. ET on CBC-TV and online.

Evelyn asked the Conservative leader what a Scheer government would do to help immigrants integrate into Canadian society and stay here.

Watch: Scheer answers questions on immigration from Genna Evelyn: 

Andrew Scheer on immigration

5 years ago

Duration 8:30

Genna Evelyn, a 35-year-old mother and immigration lawyer living in Saint-Georges, Que., asks Scheer what a Conservative government would do to help immigrants integrate into Canadian life, and reunite with their families. As an undecided voter, she wants to know whether the next federal government will recognize and tackle the unique immigration issues facing different regions of Canada.

Bryan Stewart, of Surrey, B.C., is a married 43-year-old father of an eight-year-old daughter who owns and operates a small business. Stewart said that he worries about the cost of living and feels that Liberal policies are making it difficult for middle-class Canadians to make ends meet.

Stewart asked Scheer if he would commit to legislative changes that would crack down on foreign ownership of Canadian real estate so that people like him can afford to buy a house.

Watch: Scheer answers questions on housing affordability from Bryan Stewart: 

Andrew Scheer on housing affordability

5 years ago

Duration 6:20

Bryan Stewart from Surrey, B.C., told Scheer he feels it’s hard for middle-class Canadians to make ends meet, and impossible for his family to own a home in a region where foreign investment is rampant. Stewart asks Scheer how he’ll put more money in the pockets of ordinary Canadians and level the playing field for those whose dream of purchasing a home is slipping out of reach.

Umair Ali, of Brampton, Ont., said he aligns with the Conservatives' social and fiscal policies. But as a first-generation Canadian, the 30-year-old expressed concerns about inclusion and wondered where someone like him would fit in with the Conservative Party.

Watch: Scheer answers questions on inclusion from Umair Ali: 

Andrew Scheer on diversity and inclusion

5 years ago

Duration 4:35

Umair Ali, 30, is a first-generation Canadian living in Brampton, Ont., who has voted for the Liberals or Conservatives in the past, depending on the issues important to him. He wants to know where someone like him fits into the Conservative Party, and whether Scheer will adopt policies that are more inclusive.

Markus Harvey, 50, and his family have lived for the past 100 years in Maugerville, N.B., a town that experienced extreme flooding in 2018 and 2019. He had questions around how a Conservative government would steer Canada's fight against climate change.

Watch: Scheer answers questions on climate policy from Markus Harvey:

Andrew Scheer on tackling climate change

5 years ago

Duration 8:33

Markus Harvey is a 50-year-old Maugerville, N.B., resident who has witnessed more and more floods wreaking havoc on his community throughout his lifetime. He asks Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer how he plans to steer Canada’s fight against climate change, and what his party would do to help families feeling the immediate impacts.

Maggie Cywink, 57, of White Fish River First Nation on Ontario's Manitoulin Island, was a special adviser to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry. She wanted to know how Scheer, if elected, would support healing for MMIWG families:

Watch: Scheer answers questions on reconciliation from Maggie Cywink:

Andrew Scheer on reconciliation and Indigenous services

5 years ago

Duration 10:33

Some of the biggest election concerns for Maggie Cywink, 57, of White Fish River First Nation in Ontario, are how the incoming government will support healing for families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and whether it can provide the services marginalized communities need. Cywink asks Scheer whether his government will spend tax dollars wisely, while Rosemary Barton asks how the Conservative leader views reconciliation.

This week on The National Presents: Face to Face with the Federal Party Leaders:

• Monday, Sept. 30: Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.
• Wednesday, Oct. 2: Green Leader Elizabeth May.
• Thursday, Oct. 3: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

Methodology:

The undecided voters chosen to question the leaders have been carefully selected from across the country and represent the diversity of the electorate groups — regionally, racially and ethnically, socio-economic, different ages, different priorities. Each voter is undecided, but open to voting for the leader they are across from and looking for the answers they need for a question that relates to their lives.

We invited leaders who are running national campaigns. We provided a date range in order to have them all recorded and aired in the span of one week. Mr. Bernier initially declined our offer to participate due to scheduling issues and we have since invited him for an interview later in the campaign.  Mr. Blanchet was not invited as the Bloc Quebecois is only running candidates in one province.

Need help preparing for election day? We've got the information you need. Text "ELECTION" to 22222 for our election toolkit. And if you've still got questions, ask us.