People’s Party of Canada (PPC) leader Maxime Bernier was pleasantly surprised on Friday to learn Justin Trudeau’s half-brother is cheering for the PPC..During the presser, Bernier was told of the Western Standard‘s hour-long interview with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s half-brother Kyle Kemper who — among other things — called out Trudeau for his divisive speech towards unvaccinated Canadians..During the interview, Kemper also showed support for the People’s Party of Canada..When Bernier was asked how he felt about a Trudeau family member propping up the Purple Wave, he said he was “surprised to hear a member of the Trudeau family is cheering for the PPC” and said he agreed with Kemper that Trudeau has been divisive..“It’s very dangerous to speak like that, coming from the leader of a democratic country, you cannot speak like that,” said Bernier..“We, at the PPC, we want to unite everybody under the freedom umbrella. We don’t believe in division and segregation..“This party is growing and I know that the mainstream media don’t like to cover the PPC because we are telling the truth based on facts and on science.”.In the Friday press conference, Bernier said he speaks for millions of Canadians with his one message to the government: “We want our lives back.”.Despite the vast majority of Canadian’s being vaccinated, Bernier showed frustration over the remaining COVID-19 measures, “from vaccine mandates to lockdowns and vaccine passports.”.The PPC leader also pointed to the recent lifting of mandates and restrictions in a number of European countries and elsewhere..“Canada is becoming the outlier. Not only do we still have most of these measures in place, but some governments are planning to add more,” said Bernier referencing his home province of Quebec bringing in a “punitive tax” against the unvaccinated..Bernier calls the “science” into question and suggested there is evidence the “authoritarian measures” have little to no effect on the spread of COVID-19 while imposing “massive negative economic and health impacts on the population.” .“Both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated can catch and spread the virus. Vaccine passports are completely useless,” said Bernier..Over the coming days, Bernier said he plans to join the trucker’s Freedom Convoy in Ottawa and support those protesting the vaccine mandate calling it a “blatant example of the unscientific approach adopted by the federal government.”.“Unvaccinated cross-border truckers have been providing an essential service to the Canadian economy for two years. That’s why they were exempt from the border closures,” said Bernier..“They pose no threat to anyone. They’re alone in their trucks most of the time. There is no crisis because of sick truckers. So why are they suddenly being forced off the road with a new vaccine mandate?”.Calling Canada’s supply chain “more fragile than ever,” Bernier called the Canadian and US governments “irresponsible” and said there is no logic behind adding further needless disruptions..“More and more Canadians, vaccinated and unvaccinated, want an end to this nightmare. The tide is turning. It’s time to stop living in fear and learn to live with this virus.”.Bernier followed with a list of requests for the Liberal government..“First, repeal the vaccine mandates on federal employees and federally regulated industries,” said Bernier..He also said he believes all civil servants, military personnel and government employees should be reinstated and federal regulated industries be instructed to rehire employees who were “unjustly fired.”.For those unjustly fired who don’t want to return to their former jobs, Bernier said they should be given “any severance package and unemployment benefits that a terminated employee normally receives.”.“Second, repeal all travel restrictions on planes, trains and boats for unvaccinated Canadians. These measures are useless and are a violation of our basic constitutional rights..“Third, the government should stop bailing out provinces that devastate their economy with lockdowns, curfews, vaccine passports, and vaccine mandates.”.Bernier blamed the federal government for influencing provinces to implement COVID-19 measures with the “billions of dollars of borrowed and printed money sent by Ottawa through various programs.”.“Provincial governments should be responsible for their own decisions. If they want to impose destructive measures, they should be accountable to their own citizens,” said Bernier..Bernier also took time to congratulate Conservative MPs including deputy leader Candice Bergen and Finance critic Pierre Poilievre who have opposed “the government’s authoritarian measures after two years of silence,” while accusing O’Toole of supporting Trudeau’s decisions throughout the pandemic..Calling the Conservative Party of Canada a “morally and intellectually corrupt party,” Bernier suggested the “door is open” for any who would like to join the People’s Party..Bernier said he is looking forward to the next general election and his opportunity to debate the other leaders on stage..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
