OTTAWA—Newly elected Conservative leader Andrew Scheer was greeted with a standing ovation by his leadership rivals and party caucus Monday in a display of unity after a deeply split vote on the weekend.

Scheer, the 38-year-old MP and former Commons Speaker, was elected with 50.95 per cent of ballots cast in a leadership race that saw 13 candidates vie for the top job, and a ballot contest that ran right up to the 13th count.

On Monday, Scheer appealed for unity saying it’s the only way “we’ll defeat Justin Trudeau in 2019.”

Scheer hailed the other leadership contenders, many of whom were in the room: Maxime Bernier, Erin O’Toole, Lisa Raitt, Mike Chong, Kellie Leitch, Steven Blaney, and Brad Trost among them.

Canadians saw what the Conservative team could do “when we were competing against one another,” he said. “Now, imagine what we can do when we work together.”

“To Canadians across the country, there is renewed hope for Canada,” Scheer said in a speech that echoed his weekend victory address. “Because we know that the pain the Trudeau Liberals are causing Canadians is only temporary. Our team is united, positive and focused on delivering for everyday Canadians and their families in 2019.”

Scheer, a dimple-cheeked father of five, got another standing ovation when he said how proud he was to have shared the national stage with his competitors.

He singled out “my friend and colleague” Maxime Bernier, the presumed frontrunner whose libertarian platform had given him a lead through much of the vote count. Bernier had won the backing of television celebrity Kevin O’Leary after he dropped out before last week’s count.

But it wasn’t enough to put Bernier over the top.

He lost to Scheer at the last ballot.

“Your bold campaign reignited the passions of Conservatives everywhere I’ve travelled,” said Scheer. “I thank you. We all thank you for what you’ve contributed, and I’m excited to work with you together on building that excitement.”

At the morning caucus that was opened to television cameras and reporters, Scheer said he was “honoured” by his victory. He promised to be the standard-bearer for many longstanding Conservative planks, of low-taxes; support for families, “not connected Ottawa insiders,” and “conservative policies that will create prosperity.”

Former House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer has narrowly edged out Maxime Bernier to become federal Conservative leader. In his victory speech Saturday, Scheer accused Justin Trudeau of being more focused on ?selfies? than policies.

“The Liberals can take their cues from the cocktail circuit. We will take ours from the minivans, from the soccer fields, from the legion halls and the grocery stores.”

He pledged to recommit Canada’s air force to the fight against Daesh, also known as ISIS; repeal the Liberals’ carbon tax, and protect free speech on campuses using the threat of de-funding universities.

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Scheer said the party’s funds are in good shape, and the caucus is united. This he credited to interim leader Rona Ambrose.

He used a lot of the same lines from his weekend speeches, about having to fill Ambrose’s “very stylish” shoes.

Before caucus, several of his rivals promised to work with him.

“There’s victory when there’s unity,” said Erin O’Toole, who was widely considered the person along with Scheer who had a good shot at defeating Bernier in what he called a “nail-biter” vote.

O’Toole said he is not concerned Scheer, whose personal views are pro-life, will allow MPs to bring forward debate on bills to reopen the abortion issue. Scheer has also said he would not allow government legislation to reopen the debate.

Andrew Scheer questioned the Trudeau government?s commitment to fighting terrorism during his first question period as Opposition leader. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan defended the government?s contributions to fighting extremists.

“Parliament is for debate, it’s not for stifling it,” said O’Toole. “We shouldn’t be afraid of these issues coming up and I think Andrew has said he wants to lead by building consensus first and not by focusing on areas of division. I think that’s a smart approach.”

MP Brad Trost, a social conservative and fellow Saskatchewan MP, said most of his supporters went to Scheer as their second choice. He said he now stands behind Scheer “110 per cent . . . . I trust Andrew and he has my full support.”

Trost said he believes social-conservatives have a stronger voice after Scheer’s election, saying for now he is giving Scheer “some space and room” to work on party unity and policies. Trost said he personally will not put forward a pro-life private member’s bill in this parliament to reopen the abortion debate. He said he’d be supportive of any such bill, and he is confident that groups such as Campaign Life Coalition will look towards electing more pro-life MPs.

MP Michelle Rempel later said the media was overly focused on what Scheer would do on the abortion issue.

“To be perfectly frank, that’s a narrative that you guys are trying to develop . . . . It was so interesting to see Stephen Harper tried to be painted one way or another for 10 years. When he said ‘we’re not reopening these debates,’ he meant it, and we ended up with a balanced budget and one of the strongest economies in the G7.”

“I feel like this is grasping here,” said Rempel.

MP Kellie Leitch, whose pitch to require face-to-face screening of all visitors, immigrants and refugees to Canada, failed to win much support, denied the vote showed a split in the party. She said Scheer won support from a wide range of backgrounds, including female MPs in the caucus. “He’s a young dynamic leader and I’m sure he’s going to do a great job.”

“I think he’s going to make sure the party is united and strong for the 2019 election,” she said, adding she will run in the next election.

Scheer supporter Mark Strahl was thrilled with the result and predicted the party would rally behind Scheer.

“He ran on a unity platform and I think we’re going to see that today and going forward that caucus and the party will rally around him.”

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