People’s Party of Canada leader campaigns in Medicine Hat

During his campaign stop, Bernier said people’s freedoms are being taken away by government and the pandemic only exasperated it.

“People are gaining back their freedom a little bit this summer but it will be back this fall. So we need to be sure to be strong and the People’s Party of Canada is the only National Party that is speaking against these lockdowns, also like I said in my speech, vaccine passports, and for freedom of choice for people that want to take the vaccine or not,” he said.

The party’s platform also focuses on ending Western Alienation and bringing what the party considers fairness to all provinces.

“We have the solution for you out west. We won’t sign the Paris Accord. We will build pipelines by using the constitution. We will change the equalization formula to be less generous and to give the right incentives to have-not provinces, to give up their own natural resources,” Bernier said.

During his speech, Bernier also laid the party’s stance on Multiculturalism and his belief that systemic racism doesn’t exist. His party emphasizes repealing the multicultural act and ending federal funding that promotes multiculturalism.

“The only legislation that is based on race is the Indian Act and we are the only party that is saying that we will abolish that act. It is a racist act, and there is no systemic racism in this country. We must be proud to be Canadian, and at the same time we must be able to celebrate this country,” he said.

Reducing the number of immigrants is also a key part of their platform. The party wants to reduce the number of yearly immigrants from an estimated 350,000 to between 100,000 to 150,000.

Bernier argues what the country needs are more skilled immigrants, that meet the economic needs of the country, and who are able to integrate into Canadian society. He claims that isn’t the case under the current immigration policy.

Attendees at the campaign stop got to meet local candidate Brodie Heidinger, who was born and raised in Medicine Hat. He said he was drawn to the People’s Party of Canada due to more traditional conservative values.

“In my opinion, I think we only have one conservative party running in the federal election. The CPC ( Conservative Party of Canada) have changed their course and changed their stripes, and they are now leaning more to the left and they seem to mimic the Liberal Party on so many different issues,” he said.

Heidinger got a nod of support from MLA Drew Barnes who gave a speech during Bernier’s campaign stop. City Councillor Jim Turner was also in attendance. He said he is not sure who he will be voting for if an election is called. But he has watched Maxine Bernier throughout his political career and wanted to hear his stance.

“I think most people know I am a fiscal conservative, and I believe in conservative values, and really the party platform really aligns with a lot of what I’m thinking,” Turner said, emphasizing their stance on personal freedoms and the federal budget.

Aside from Medicine Hat, Bernier also made stops in Lethbridge and Taber over the weekend.

by Tiffany Goodwein

People’s Party of Canada leader campaigns in Medicine Hat

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