Conservatives’ Scheer to commit to seeking free trade deal with U.K. if elected

OTTAWA — Andrew Scheer is expected to promise today that a Conservative government would pursue a free trade deal with the United Kingdom.

A pledge to negotiate a bilateral deal with the U.K. was part of Scheer’s leadership campaign platform and he’s expected to repeat that vow today in a speech to a gathering of conservatives.

A Conservative source says Scheer — who supported the 2016 campaign for Britain to leave the European Union — will also pitch the idea of Canada-U.K. free trade on a trip there later this year.

Foreign affairs and free trade are two of the many topics on the agenda at the annual Manning Networking Conference.