Clement endorses Bernier for leader

CONSERVATIVE PARTY Former minister says their policy ideas align

• Conser v a - tive leadership candidate Maxime Bernier has landed the biggest endorsement to date of any candidate, with longtime Tory MP and onetime leadership hopeful Tony Clement throwing his support behind the Quebec MP.

Bernier announced Thursday on Parliament Hill that Clement will serve as a special adviser to him and provide valuable input in a variety of areas, including health and fiscal policies.

Clement withdrew from the leadership race in October in large part due to challenges with fundraising.

Nevertheless, Clement has a national profile and large network of backers, especially in his home province of Ontario, and will undoubtedly provide a boost to Bernier’s campaign in selling memberships and rounding up support.

“Tony is a giant of the Conservative movement in Canada, having served Canadians in various positions at the federal and provincial level for over 20 years,” Bernier, flanked by Clement, told reporters at a news conference.

“It’s a new beginning for this campaign.”

Bernier said Clement, as a former provincial and federal health minister, knows government needs to end Ottawa’s “intrusion” into health care, which is provincial jurisdiction.

“We need to innovate and experiment with private service delivery to solve the wait-time problem,” Bernier said, noting Clement can help him convince Conservatives and all Canadians that it’s the right solution.

Clement said he’s supporting Bernier because their ideas align, including on the need for more personal freedom, lower and flatter taxes, and the importance of security for the country.

As well, he said Bernier can keep the Conservative party focused and unified across the country, and can defeat Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the 2019 election.

Bernier is a “Quebecer with a truly national reach,” Clement told reporters.

“Max Bernier has the ideas, the experience and the ability not only to lead our party but to lead our country as well,” he told reporters. “He has a clarity that will motivate our Conservative base, but more importantly grow it everywhere.”

Clement dropped out of the race in mid-October after collecting only $20,080 from 26 contributors for the period ending Sept. 30, according to Elections Canada data.

With Clement’s endorsement, Bernier now has seven Conservative caucus members (four MPs and three senators) backing him.

Leadership candidate Andrew Scheer leads the way in endorsements, with the support of at least two dozen Conservative caucus members, including 19 MPs and five senators.