Latest news with #Bernier
CBC
02-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
With less than 1% of the vote, does the People's Party of Canada have a future?
Four years ago, the People's Party of Canada was poised to be a thorn in the Conservative Party's side. Riding the momentum of its anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown, anti-immigration agenda during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, the young party won five per cent of the national vote. It peeled supporters away from other parties — in particular, a more moderate Conservative Party led by Erin O'Toole — and found new ones who felt disenfranchised by the country's traditional political system. Maxime Bernier, an ex-Conservative MP who left the party after an unsuccessful leadership bid, coalesced a small base of voters around what he called an "ideological revolution." His new party didn't win a seat, but it more than tripled support from the 2019 election. WATCH | Bernier speaks during a campaign stop in Windsor, Ont.: People's Party leader brings message to Windsor, Ont., crowd 22 days ago Duration 2:17 Fast-forward to election night 2025. The PPC notched just 0.7 per cent of the national vote on Monday, and Bernier came fourth in his own riding, losing by nearly 34,000 votes. Since founding the party in 2018, he hasn't won a seat in the House of Commons. Does the People's Party have a future? Despite Monday's results, Bernier said the group isn't going away. "The People's Party will be there at the next election — in two years or four years — with the same ideas and the same platform," he told CBC News during an interview on Thursday. "When Canadians will be ready, we will be there." Unclear path forward Eric Merkley, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto who researches political polarization, said the People's Party's performance has depended on specific economic and social conditions that weren't present this time around. During the pandemic, the party gained momentum from Canadians strongly opposed to what they perceived as government overreach on COVID-19 public health measures. The Conservatives, meanwhile, took a more middle-of-the-road approach. "A lot of their vote was from people that were aggrieved by the pandemic in one way or another, and as the pandemic has receded into the background, they've lost a lot of that power," said Merkley. He added that Poilievre worked hard to bring some of those voters back into the Conservative fold, which made it very hard for the PPC "to breathe electorally." "I don't really think those conditions are going to change," said Merkley. "Absent a new, more centrist Conservative Party leader, and absent a new crisis that they can kind of stoke grievance around, I don't really think they have a path forward." A two-horse race Bernier acknowledged that many voters who'd previously voted for the PPC, during what had largely become a two-horse race between the Conservatives and Liberals, went to the Conservatives in fear of a split vote. "For me, that election was not a traditional election, if I may express myself like that. It was a referendum on the 51st state," said Bernier. "It was about the tariffs and counter-tariffs and who will be the best one to negotiate with President Trump." David Coletto, the founder and CEO of Abacus Data, said the People's Party suffered from the same conditions that impacted the Green Party and the NDP at the other end of the political spectrum. "The choice became binary and there was little space left for smaller parties," he said. During the final week of the campaign, only 15 per cent of people polled by Abacus said they'd be open to voting for the PPC — much lower than other parties, including the Greens. "I think that's reflective of the question that I think hangs over the party: What is its purpose?" said Coletto. With the pandemic no longer a salient electoral issue, Bernier campaigned on ending "mass immigration," scrapping what he referred to as "woke" policies concerning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and trans people, boosting the economy by cutting public spending and implementing stricter policies around national security. "I know that some of our ideas are not that popular. But we believe that [they are] the best solutions for the future of this country," he said. While Bernier has said that " people who are racist" aren't welcome in the party, some have accused him of courting support among white supremacists and far-right extremists. He was interviewed by InfoWars founder and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in March, and last month spoke with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who was fired by the network and now hosts his own show. He also recently appeared on a podcast hosted by alt-right political influencer Charlie Kirk. Bernier looks to the U.K.'s Reform Party as a sort of blueprint for the PPC's future. Leader Nigel Farage, a controversial figure in British politics who has railed against mass immigration, tried to win a seat in the country's Parliament for years. He was finally successful last summer, on his eighth try — and some pundits expect that Reform will make major gains in the country's local elections this week. "Their platform is almost the same as the People's Party," said Bernier. "So our time will come." Bernier pledges a leadership review As polls closed and results came flooding in on election night, Jason Kenney, the former Alberta premier and Conservative cabinet minister, had some choice words for a party that — just four years ago — seemed to pose a serious risk to the Conservative coalition. "For me, one of the positive things tonight is the total disappearance of the People's Party of Canada. Less than one per cent. Stick a fork in it," said Kenney. "So that should no longer be a distraction for the Conservative Party. And I think it's an opportunity to acknowledge some real progress that has been made by the party. But also a moment for humility to see how it could've been done differently." Bernier, who has repeatedly called Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre a "fake conservative," said the PPC will focus on winning back the voters it lost this year. Asked why he hasn't been able to secure a seat in the House of Commons since he left the Conservatives, he said it's "because I don't do any polling. I don't tell the population what they want to hear today." The People's Party will conduct a leadership review in a few weeks, he said, adding that the party has several young candidates who could plausibly take its helm should the membership call for a change. "It's very important for the democracy in our party. And depending on the result, I will stay or I will leave, but we'll see." He is unsure of whether he'll run in a byelection — as he has unsuccessfully in the past — to win a seat in Parliament.
CBC
10-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier visits Windsor
Social Sharing Maxime Bernier, leader of the People's Party of Canada, is making a stop in Windsor Wednesday night. Bernier is expected to join local PPC candidates at the Windsor Club for an event beginning at 6 p.m. The club is located in the Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore riding, where Nick Babic is the party's candidate. Jacob Bezaire is the PPC candidate in nearby Windsor West, while Jason Henry is running in Essex. Bernier's party is currently polling behind the Greens and the Bloc Québécois at 1.7 per cent, according to CBC's Poll Tracker. The party, which Bernier founded in 2018 after leaving the Conservatives, made vote gains in the last federal election, earning roughly 5 per cent of the vote share — but it has so far failed to win a seat in Parliament. Bernier has campaigned on stopping "mass immigration," ending gender-affirming care for transgender people, and slashing government programs and agencies among other things.
CBC
03-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Maxime Bernier pitches sweeping tax cuts during campaign stop on P.E.I.
Social Sharing The leader of the People's Party of Canada pledged to "abolish" the capital gains tax, along with a slew of other programs if his party forms the next federal government. Maxime Bernier made a campaign stop in Prince Edward Island on Wednesday, holding a news conference outside the Summerside Tax Centre. While making no new announcements specific to P.E.I., Bernier pitched himself as a business-friendly candidate who wants to bring more investment to Canada in the face of a trade war with the United States. He said he would lower personal and corporate tax rates and cut taxes on investments. "Canada is a champion for handing out subsidies to businesses, but that's not working. We are simply taking money from some taxpayers and businesses and giving it to other businesses," he said. "In this crisis situation we are in, we need to be bold. We need a big tax revolution." Bernier's visit to the Island comes on the heels of stops by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in Charlottetown and Borden-Carleton on Tuesday. Bernier called tax cuts proposed by Poilievre and Liberal Leader Mark Carney "tiny," saying they do nothing to help Canadians in the long term. Carney previously said he would cancel a proposed hike in the capital gains tax, which applies to the profit made from the sale of capital assets like stocks, bonds and real estate. Poilievre has also promised to defer capital gains taxes if the proceeds are reinvested in Canada. "It's better than nothing, but it's almost nothing," Bernier said Wednesday. "What we need are significant, more ambitious tax cuts to allow Canadian families to keep up with the high cost of living." WATCH | Who's telling the truth about the capital gains tax? Who's telling the truth about the capital gains tax? | About That 10 months ago Duration 15:07 Canada's capital gains tax increase comes into effect on June 25. Andrew Chang breaks down some misleading claims about the changes coming from both sides of the political aisle and explains who is likely to pay the new tax, how much and how often. Does it really just hit the ultra-rich? Bernier said a PPC government would eliminate the roughly $50 billion budget deficit in its first year, and find surpluses to make his proposed tax cuts in the second year by eliminating $60 billion in federal programming. He proposed nixing corporate welfare, foreign aid to Ukraine, CBC/Radio-Canada, equalization payments to provinces, what he called "wasteful" Indigenous programs, and subsidies for diversity, equity and inclusion and multiculturalism. Canadians go to the polls on April 28.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maxime Bernier decries 'woke ideology' at campaign stop in Dartmouth
People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier made a campaign stop Monday in Dartmouth, N.S., where he condemned "woke ideology" and said Canada is on the precipice of going "down the drain." The former Conservative cabinet minister held a news conference on the Dartmouth waterfront on Day 9 of the federal election campaign. He highlighted one of the pillars of the PPC platform: ending what he calls "woke" policies. Specifically, he said he would end policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the military. "[Justin] Trudeau did everything he could to destroy our proud Canadian Forces by imposing his insane woke ideology on the military," said Bernier. He criticized vaccination requirements that resulted in nearly 300 service members being released, and "diversity hiring quotas." PPC Leader Maxime Bernier, centre, stands on the waterfront of Dartmouth, N.S., flanked by PPC candidates Ryan Slaney and Michelle Lindsay. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC) The Canadian military and Department of National Defence have, according to the military ombudsman, adopted many initiatives over the last two decades to address long-standing barriers to the recruitment and retention of women, visible minorities and Indigenous people. Yet the military is still largely made up of white males, and the ombudsman said in 2022 there has been little progress in increasing diversity. Bernier was flanked by two PPC candidates who are running in the Halifax area. The party has nominated candidates in 10 of 11 Nova Scotia ridings. The leader said his party will have a full slate in time for the April 28 election. This will be Bernier's third general election running as a PPC candidate in Beauce, the Quebec riding he used to represent as a Conservative MP. Bernier split from the Conservatives after he lost the 2018 leadership race to Andrew Scheer. As of Monday, CBC's poll tracker has the PPC in a distant sixth place with about two per cent of the projected vote share. Bernier's central campaign promises are pausing immigration, ending "woke" policies, boosting the economy by cutting spending and implementing policies related to national security. He said Monday that if the PPC platform isn't enacted in the coming months, Canada is heading "down the drain." "We are so different than the Liberals and the Conservatives on the most important issues for the future of this country. If you believe in this country, if you want to have a prosperous country, you need to support our candidates here in Nova Scotia and all across the country," he said. Bernier has been accused of courting far-right, conspiratorial racists, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and appeared on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones's podcast as recently as March 22. The PPC has denied that people with "extreme views" are welcome in the party. It received five per cent of the national vote during the 2021 federal election and has never won a seat. MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
31-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Maxime Bernier decries 'woke ideology' at campaign stop in Dartmouth
Social Sharing People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier made a campaign stop Monday in Dartmouth, N.S., where he condemned "woke ideology" and said Canada is on the precipice of going "down the drain." The former Conservative cabinet minister held a news conference on the Dartmouth waterfront on Day 9 of the federal election campaign. He highlighted one of the pillars of the PPC platform: ending what he calls " woke" policies. Specifically, he said he would end policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the military. "[Justin] Trudeau did everything he could to destroy our proud Canadian Forces by imposing his insane woke ideology on the military," said Bernier. He criticized vaccination requirements that resulted in nearly 300 service members being released, and "diversity hiring quotas." The Canadian military and Department of National Defence have, according to the military ombudsman, adopted many initiatives over the last two decades to address long-standing barriers to the recruitment and retention of women, visible minorities and Indigenous people. Yet the military is still largely made up of white males, and the ombudsman said in 2022 there has been little progress in increasing diversity. Bernier was flanked by two PPC candidates who are running in the Halifax area. The party has nominated candidates in 10 of 11 Nova Scotia ridings. The leader said his party will have a full slate in time for the April 28 election. This will be Bernier's third general election running as a PPC candidate in Beauce, the Quebec riding he used to represent as a Conservative MP. Bernier split from the Conservatives after he lost the 2018 leadership race to Andrew Scheer. As of Monday, CBC's poll tracker has the PPC in a distant sixth place with about two per cent of the projected vote share. Bernier's central campaign promises are pausing immigration, ending "woke" policies, boosting the economy by cutting spending and implementing policies related to national security. He said Monday that if the PPC platform isn't enacted in the coming months, Canada is heading "down the drain." "We are so different than the Liberals and the Conservatives on the most important issues for the future of this country. If you believe in this country, if you want to have a prosperous country, you need to support our candidates here in Nova Scotia and all across the country," he said. Bernier has been accused of courting far-right, conspiratorial racists, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and appeared on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones's podcast as recently as March 22. The PPC has denied that people with " extreme views" are welcome in the party. It received five per cent of the national vote during the 2021 federal election and has never won a seat.
