People’s Party what Canada has been waiting for – Bernier
Leader of new party on visit to Okanagan says it will run complete slate of candidates for federal election in fall
The fledgling People’s Party of Canada plans to run candidates in all Okanagan ridings in this fall’s federal election.
In fact, leader Maxime Bernier, who is in the Okanagan for a couple of events this weekend, said the People’s Party will run a candidate in every one of Canada’s 338 ridings.
“We’ll have 308 in place by the end of May and all 338 in place by the end of June,” said Bernier, MP for the Quebec riding of Beauce since 2006.
“I don’t know how many seats we’ll get in the next election, but I think we will do well because we’re the new party Canada has been waiting for.”
The People’s Party was formed only seven months ago, but Bernier said the party’s youth is not a disadvantage.
“Look at Emmanuel Macron in France,” said Bernier. “He was elected president after creating a new party.”
The People’s Party has 40,000 members, more than the 19,000 the Green
party has, according to Bernier.
Bernier was going to use some of this weekend’s events to introduce candidates for Okanagan ridings.
“I hope we can win this riding (South Okanagan-West Kootenay),” Bernier said during a stop at Time Winery in Penticton.
“We have great ideas and good candidates, and that’s why I’m here.
“I think the People’s Party will be a huge surprise in the next federal election,” he said.
Bernier dropped by Time Winery to talk about how ridiculous it is that wine can’t be sold and shipped across Canada without barriers.
“B.C. has a free trade agreement with Alberta and Saskatchewan that should be the model for the whole country,” he said. “The goal is complete free trade.”
A free market is part of the People’s Party’s platform that also includes limited government, a freer and more prosperous country, fairness, respect and reforms.
“It will take bold reforms and bold policies to balance the budget,” said Bernier.
“We have the courage to make those bold reforms, like cutting the CBC and abolishing the corporate welfare that amounts to $5 billion a year.”
Bernier advocates a 10 per cent flat tax on business that will raise the money needed to balance the budget and keep the country running.
“In fact, there will be lower taxes in general,” he said.
“And we won’t pander to special interest groups. People are fed up with traditional politicians and traditional politics.”
Bernier was one of those traditional politicians before he split from the federal Conservative party in 2018.
Before that, he had been in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet and the shadow cabinet of current Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. Bernier was narrowly defeated by Scheer in the 2017 Conservative leadership race.
Tonight, Bernier will be at a People’s Party fundraiser at Kelowna’s Delta Grand hotel. It costs $250 for dinner, $75 for the pre-dinner reception or $300 for both. About 300 are expected to attend.
The guest speaker will be former Greenpeace activist Patrick Moore, who will talk about climate change.
Laura-Lynn Thompson, who won 11% of the popular vote as the People’s Party candidate in the recent federal byelection in Burnaby, will also be there.
Another 200 are expected Sunday at a free Wild West-themed, family-friendly rally at Pioneer Town in Kelowna at 1590 Pioneer Rd.