Bernier stance troubles Tories
MP’s ‘raging’ about multiculturalism puzzles ex-supporter Tony Clement
OTTAWA — Conservative MP Tony Clement says Maxime Bernier is “raging at the sky” and he’s not the same politician he supported during last year’s Conservative leadership race.
Clement likened Bernier’s recent diatribes against “extreme multiculturalism” to former Conservative leadership rival Kellie Leitch’s controversial proposal to test immigrants and refugees for “Canadian values.”
“The Max Bernier that I supported during the leadership race wouldn’t have taken the position he’s taking now,” Clement said in an interview.
Clement said he remembers Bernier opposing Leitch’s proposal when she was “saying very similar things.”
“I think that Max may soon find that he’s a guy raging at the sky rather than being taken seriously on some of these things,” he said.
In a series of tweets posted Sunday, Bernier said promoting too much diversity could have the effect of segmenting Canada into “little tribes” that cause division and erode the country’s identity. On Tuesday, he seized on a decision to name a park in Winnipeg after the founder of Pakistan, comparing it to the decision to remove the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald from outside Victoria City Hall.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said Thursday that he has asked his team to work together, but wouldn’t say whether he’ll take any action against Bernier. He dodged questions from reporters about whether the Beauce MP will be removed from caucus.
Scheer said those decisions are made as a team and that the expectation is that all members work “towards the same goal.” He also reiterated that Bernier speaks “for himself” and not the party.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Scheer said he disagrees with politicians on both the left and the right when they use identity politics to divide Canadians, and he vowed to “not engage in this type of politics.”
Bernier fired back at that statement Thursday on Twitter, saying he has repeatedly stated he believes it is destructive to focus on cultural and ethnic identity in political discussions.
Bernier said he’s advancing “the opposite of identity politics” by focusing on policy solutions that concern all Canadians.
Clement said he has not spoken to Bernier and doesn’t know what his motives are. He said the party is “robust” and Bernier does not threaten its unity.
“All I know is that this isn’t the Max Bernier that I saw and supported over a year ago in the leadership,” Clement added.
Conservative MP James Bezan said Bernier should apologize for his “divisive” comments.
“Max continues to exercise poor judgment and is constantly at odds with caucus,” Bezan said.
Under an agreement that Conservative MPs agreed to apply to their parliamentary group, Scheer alone could not kick Bernier out of their caucus. His removal would have to be initiated by a letter signed by onefifth of his fellow Conservative MPs, which would then have to win majority caucus support in a secret ballot vote.