The MP for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo says Andrew Scheer’s resignation as party leader came as a surprise to her.

Cathy McLeod tells NL News that is because Scheer had given every indication that he planned to continue on as leader in the weeks following the October election.

“He’s made his decision in terms of wanting a united party, wanting to move forward and so I respect that and of course, certainly if we were dealing a leadership race, it’s always better in a minority government to be dealing with it sooner rather than later,” she said.

As for allegations first reported by Global News that Scheer was using party money to pay for his kids private school, McLeod says she isn’t aware of any such allegations.

“I just know when you are the leader of a party and you have five young children, it’s an extraordinary challenge,” she added. “It takes a lot of energy and capacity and so certainly I’m on going to speculate on anything that I’m not aware of.”

The Conservative Party has confirmed it was helping pay for the education of Scheer’s children by paying the difference between the cost of private school tuition in Saskatchewan and the higher cost in Ottawa. However, a spokesperson says all proper procedures were followed, and signed off on by the appropriate people.

And as for who will replace Scheer as leader, McLeod said she won’t be putting her name forward.