Guest columnist David Parker is the founder and president of Take Back Alberta, an organization dedicated to educating Albertans on how to restore their freedoms. He’s also the co-host of The Canadian Story podcast..There’s only one viable Conservative party leadership candidate for the unvaccinated. After months of reflecting on the state of our country and the current chaos of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), I believe Roman Baber is the man for the job..The last two years have come as a shock to any Canadian paying attention. I’ve spent my life studying, participating in, and advocating for democracy as the best means of defending our rights. And yet, my rights have been unceremoniously stripped from me based on a personal medical decision. If not for the truckers’ Freedom Convoy, I would have left Canada — even after spending my entire adult life building its democratic institutions. .The unvaccinated are rightly distrustful of their governments. They've been systematically segregated and demonized by the mainstream media and their elected officials. And now, the CPC has disqualified the two men the unvaccinated chose as their champions — Grant Abraham and Joseph Bourgault. This has further alienated a new class of political activists and further disenfranchised Canadians increasingly forced to the fringes of society because of their medical status. .There is only one politician in the CPC leadership race who suffered with us. True, Roman Baber is vaccinated. But he lost his job, many of his friends, and potentially his political career by standing up for unvaccinated Canadians. He publicly opposed lockdowns long before vaccines become mandatory and before most political leaders began speaking on the radical curtailment of civil liberties. He's been a consistent champion of freedom throughout the pandemic. Can any other leadership candidate say the same?.I respect Pierre Poilievre’s rhetoric and energy, but his actions are wanting. Where was Poilievre when the unvaccinated lost basic rights last fall? Like any career politician, he saw where the parade was going and jumped on the truckers’ bandwagon when it was safe to do so. In contrast, Roman Baber suffered with us, the unvaccinated, and in doing so, lost his job in Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government. .I don't believe Roman Baber will, or can, fix all the problems plaguing this nation. Canada may be beyond saving. It’s possible Western Canadians and Alberta must begin planning our exit from a confederation that appears not to want us. But before that happens, we must stand with those who stood for us in our darkest hour. Roman Baber is a man of principle. I stand with him because he stood for me when I needed it most. .I hope you will consider doing the same. .Guest columnist David Parker is the founder and president of Take Back Alberta, an organization dedicated to educating Albertans on how to restore their freedoms. He’s also the co-host of The Canadian Story podcast, and a Western Standard shareholder.
