Maxime Bernier promotes People’s Party of Canada in Medicine Hat

Bernier’s appearance in Medicine Hat comes as the Quebec politician is touring Alberta, promoting his party and candidates ahead of the federal election.

Maxime Bernier addresses supporters during an event at the Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club Friday morning

“I’m very happy with our tour,” Bernier told media following his event. “The reception, it is all like that, all across the country, because we are the only political party to speak about the issues and people understand that there’s a solution for what’s happening right now in Canada. That’s an answer to frustrations that Albertans are having right now with the federal government and federal politicians.”

Bernier says the biggest issues Albertans have been sharing with him at stops are getting pipelines built and approved, along with equalization payment reform.

He says if the People’s Party was elected, he would privatize the Trans Mountain pipeline once again, change regulatory processes to allow additional construction of pipelines, and use Section 92.10 of the Canadian Constitution to impose pipelines on provinces by declaring them to be in the national interest of Canada.

Bernier has also promised to review the formula for equalization payments provinces receive to ensure fairness, and encourage provinces to develop their resources to not rely on equalization payments.

“It’s a real conservative land here, and we are the only real conservative party.” -Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada

In 2017, Bernier ran for the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, but was defeated in the final round of voting by Andrew Scheer. He left to sit an an independent, before forming the People’s Party of Canada last year.

During his stop in Medicine Hat, Scheer was a target of Bernier’s, who said the Conservative Party had drifted closer to the Liberals under Scheer.

Bernier believes his party can have a strong showing in Alberta during the fall election.

“It’s a real conservative land here, and we are the only real conservative party,” he said. “Andrew Scheer won’t balance the budget, like Justin Trudeau. Andrew Scheer wants to follow the paris accord targets, like Justin Trudeau. Andrew Scheer won’t cut corporate welfare, like Justin Trudeau. Andrew Scheer wont be able to build pipelines because he won’t use the Constitution, he won’t impose a pipeline on Quebec and other provinces, just like Trudeau… If you’re a real conservative, we’re the only choice.”

The leader prompted controversy following a stop in Calgary, where a photograph of him posting with members of Northern Guard was posted to Facebook. The Northern Guard is described by the Canada Anti-Hate Network as a far-right group that splintered off from the Soldiers of Odin, and holds anti-Muslim beliefs.

“I’m a public politician, I’m doing public events open to the public, open to everybody, and I’m taking photos with people who want to take photos with me,” Bernier said. “I don’t do any background check when I have a person who wants to do a photo with me. It’s a public event, there’s lots of people, it’s very fast, I’m taking photos.

“Everybody knows our point of view, everyone knows our philosophy and what we believe in, and i always say, people who want to vote for us, they will come if they share our values. Our values are fairness, responsibility…we’re not anti-immigration, we’re not for mass immigration. We’re for fewer immigrants, and that’s a nice discussion to have. I will always do public events and I will always be available, and I won’t have time to do a background check on everybody who wants a photo.”

Andrew Nelson, the People’s Party of Canada candidate for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, says Bernier’s appearance in the riding can help build support in the region.

“We’ll just be reiterating that message going forward between now and the election, and i think he just really resonates with people,” he said.

Bernier is finishing the day with several events in Cardston. He will be in Cochrane on Saturday and wrap up his tour of Alberta Sunday with appearances at the Calgary Stampede and in Airdrie.

by Charles Lefebvre

Maxime Bernier promotes People’s Party of Canada in Medicine Hat

Our Community