WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?
– Calgary MP Rempel wants to know if Quebec MP Bernier is trying to lose election for CPC
OTTAWA In an attempt to set the narrative for this week’s policy convention in Halifax, Andrew Scheer’s Conservative team laid out its policy agenda for “fair, orderly and compassionate” immigration, but once again was knocked off message by maverick caucus member Maxime Bernier.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel and treasury board critic Gerard Deltell held a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday to unveil the party’s immigration platform, which includes a plan to travel across the country to hear Canadians’ views.
Rempel criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for what she says has been the lack of a clear vision on immigration policy. This has led to a polarization of debate over how Canada should manage the flow of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, she said.
Canada needs a multipronged and detailed immigration plan given competing demands, Rempel said.
She pointed to calls from advocacy groups for Canada to take more refugees amid an influx of tens of thousands of irregular border crossers, as well as requests from industry and business groups for more immigration to sustain local economies in areas that also face high unemployment rates.
“Canada is and should remain a country that welcomes newcomers,” she said. “The question is under what principles and what policy — the question is how, not if.”
Rempel said her party would:
• be more transparent about how immigration levels are determined;
• completely overhaul the low-skilled temporary foreign worker program;
• amend the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S. to reduce the flow of irregular migrants;
• and revamp resettlement services for newcomers.
But try as they might to focus the discussion on policy, Rempel and Deltell found themselves fielding questions about Bernier’s latest display of defiance on his Twitter feed.
In his most recent tweets, which surfaced Tuesday and Wednesday, Bernier said he believes immigration in Canada is at “too high a level” — one where it “ceases to be a tool to economically benefit Canadians and it turns instead into a burden.”
“It becomes essentially a big-government policy of social engineering for ideological and electoral purposes,” he wrote.
In response, Rempel — herself an often outspoken voice around the Tory caucus table — said it’s time for Bernier to decide whether he wants his own party or the rival Liberals to form the next government.
“Max has never come to talk to me about immigration,” Rempel told the news conference.
“I would also say my colleague has a choice to make does he want Andrew Scheer to win or does he want Justin Trudeau to win?”
Bernier has spent the last week and a half using his Twitter account to accuse the Trudeau government of promoting too much diversity and “extreme multiculturalism,” and beating back anyone calling his views into question.
He was at it again upon learning Rempel had scheduled the Wednesday news conference on immigration.
“After disavowing me last week for raising the issue and telling me to shut up, my colleagues have just realized that this is something Canadians find important and want to hear about? Great example of strong leadership!”