Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leadership candidate Roman Baber has proven he’ll fight for Canadian freedoms — no matter what it personally costs him..Baber, 41, has been an independent MPP for Toronto’s York Centre riding since Ontario Premier Doug Ford ejected him from his caucus in January 2021..Ford — who has shockingly demonstrated he’s conservative in name only — was so incensed over Baber’s criticism of his COVID-19 lockdowns, he also banned him from running for the Progressive Conservative party in June’s provincial election..So, Baber set his sights on the federal CPC vacancy created when Erin O’Toole was ousted as leader. He’s one of six confirmed contestants to date..“I’ve demonstrated over the last two years that I say what I believe, and I do what I believe is right. I have done what is unpopular and risky to my career and at great expense to myself and my family,” Baber told the Western Standard..“I’m not afraid to make difficult decisions. Sometimes folks may disagree with me. That’s OK, that’s democracy. They’ll always know where I stand.”.“That’s what differentiates me from the other contestants in the race. I stood up to the left-wing COVID mob when it was unpopular to do so. I wasn’t afraid of cancel culture. I defended workers against passports and mandates before the Freedom Convoy rolled into town,” said Baber who won his Ontario seat in 2018..As prime minister, Baber would immediately set straight three issues negatively impacting Canadians — lingering COVID-19 mandates, government-funded media, and a weakened energy sector..“The first thing I would do is outlaw any passports and mandates,” said Baber, who stressed he’s not anti-vaccine, but simply pro-choice..Concerns lockdowns were “causing more collateral harm than they do any good” compelled Baber to demand Ford end lockdowns..The attention he called to delayed surgeries, rising drug overdoses, and an “unsustainable” mental health crisis particularly impacting children, got him booted from the party..“I continued to fight for fair public health response. I opposed passports and mandates around legislation to protect workers against workplace mandates. I sued the attorney general for a right to pray and protest outdoors.”.“I’ve given a voice to hundreds of thousands of Ontarians and millions of Canadians.”.Baber is confident that, with the right leadership, Canada can recover from damage inflicted by the current Liberal regime..“There’s so much democracy engraved in the DNA of Canadians that we can survive (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau.”.“I’m sure that we’re not just opposing this overreach in government response, or the erosion of Canada’s democracy. We’re dealing with a left-wing ideological cancel culture that seeks to impose collectivism; it’s way of life on Canadians.”.“I don’t think Canadians want that. We want to work hard. We want to love our families. We want to do whatever it is we do for entertainment. We want government to leave us alone. I think that message will resonate in a lot of Canadians.”.Still, he’s not certain Canadians are fully aware they’ve been under intense ideological siege..“A lot of Canadians aren’t sure exactly what transpired in the last couple of years. We are well-meaning and kind people. So, we do not believe that may be ideological or sinister components to some of the public health response.”.“People, like the prime minster, that sought to increase interventionism in our country would not fold on his public health exercise. A lot of Canadians by now feel like they were somewhat fooled by what they were enduring for the last two years. The goalposts kept shifting.”.“Canadians don’t know what to believe anymore. We have to speak with a clear voice and be sensible and moderate and offer them an alternative where we restore democratic rights, go back to normal, and go back to what made our country great, which is democracy and opportunity.”.Baber recognizes that to enjoy democracy, a nation needs an independent media..“I would defund the CBC and the media bailout subsidies … you cannot have freedom in media having financial dependence on the government.”.Baber would cancel the carbon tax, repeal anti-pipeline decisions, “rebalance” Canada’s approach to mining, and focus on renewable hydro power..“I’d be working with provinces to make sure we build pipelines coast-to-coast and into the United States.”.“I will take every step possible to unleash Canada’s economic potential as the natural resources superpower that it ought to be.”.Baber isn’t only pointing a finger at the Trudeau government..“We cannot restore democracy in Canada without first restoring democracy in the Conservative Party.”.“I am going to end all nomination shenanigans in the Conservative Party.”.As leader he would treat caucus members with “deference, dignity, and respect” and never force them to vote with the party on matters of conscience..“MP's work for their constituents, not the party or the party boss," he said. "I suffered from a deficit of democracy within my own caucus. I will never prevent an MP from voicing an opinion or doing what they genuinely believe to be right by their constituents.”.Baber is competing with Conservative’s shadow finance minister and MP for Carleton Pierre Poilievre, ON; former Liberal Quebec premier Jean Charest; Conservative MP for Haldimand-Norfolk, ON, Leslyn Lewis; Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown; and Conservative MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, ON, Scott Aitchison A handful of hopefuls were disqualified..Poilievre and Lewis spoke out against vaccine mandates — long after Baber..Alberta political strategist David Parker has thrown his weight behind Baber..Every unvaccinated Canadian should stand behind Baber, said Parker, a Western Standard shareholder..“There is only one politician in the CPC leadership race who suffered with us. Ultimately, Roman Baber decided to personally get vaccinated, but he lost his job, many of his friends, and potentially his political career by standing up for unvaccinated Canadians.”.Baber appreciates this support..“I’ve been competing coast to coast. I’m glad that we have many like-minded Canadians across the country that share our perspective on democracy and opportunity.”.“Given the events of the last couple of years many Canadians feel like they have no trust, or we have an eroded trust in government, in politicians. Too many of them put politics ahead of the people they serve. That is how I’ll be able to distinguish myself from others.”.Baber, a lawyer by profession, describes himself as a democratic conservative.
