PPC leader Maxime Bernier, hot on the heels of a successful leadership review, hopes Albertans will vote in favour of independence — not to break up Canada, but so that serious concessions will be made by Ottawa.Bernier won the leadership review with 79.1% of the vote, a drop in approval since his 2021 review, where he garnered a staggering 95.6% approval rate. Notably, voter turnout was significantly lower this time — 32.7% compared to a 57% voter participation rate four years ago.Bernier was undeterred by the lower approval rating, but would have liked to see more party members submit a vote."I'm very pleased. I’m satisfied (with the leadership review). And I know that I have to support the confidence of the members of the People's Party," he told the Western Standard in an interview."What I'm a little bit disappointed in is the participation rate."Bernier mused the lower turnout could be attributed to members who signed up, for example, during the COVID-19 era, who had particular concerns at the time, but now those concerns don’t seem so pressing."Maybe that means that our members are not so concerned about that and didn't want to participate," he said..WATCH: 'TIME FOR STRONG REFORM' — Bernier launches PPC election campaign in Montreal.Another factor could be the results of the spring election, where the PPC garnered just about 1% of the vote. Bernier confirmed a staggering 85 PPC candidates mysteriously dropped out at the last minute. Three of them were soon afterwards spotted in photos with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on his campaign trail, he said.The PPC was unable to secure replacements because the cut-off had already passed. Therefore, several ridings didn’t have a PPC candidate."Now we're doing a debrief about the election with our members and our organization across the country," said Bernier, explaining the steps the party is taking to prevent such a thing from happening again."The disappointment of the last election was that it was a kind of referendum on who will be the best one to deal with President Trump," said Bernier."We wanted to have a discussion about immigration. About 65% of Canadians are saying we have too many immigrants, and we need to have a pause. But people were more concerned about the future of the country in line with the relationship with the US.".GOLD STANDARD: Bernier calls for Canada to stockpile gold again.The election results weren’t in favour of Poilievre either, who lost both the election as Conservative leader, and his long-held seat as an MP. He will be running again in the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, AB, against PPC candidate Jonathan Bridges."We know that it would be very difficult for us to win. But our message would be very clear to Alberta. We're going to tell them: you have a real choice," said Bernier, explaining constituents can decide if they want a leader who propagates the climate change narrative or rejects it."We are the only party that will withdraw from the Paris Accords, and won't impose any carbon tax or regulations to fight the climate. For us, that's not a priority. The climate is always changing. But for Poilievre and (Prime Minister Mark) Carney, you know, they have climate change policies and more taxes and more regulation," said Bernier."About the equalization formula concern in Western Canada, we are the only party that said that we must cut the equalization formula by half…so let's have this discussion.""In Western Canada, people are very upset about the federal government interfering and telling them what to do.""So we want to show Canadians and Albertans there's a real difference between us and the Conservatives. And if you vote for us and for our candidate, you will send a strong message to the establishment political parties — the Conservatives and the Liberals.".WATCH: ‘DAIRY CARTEL’ — Bernier issues message to Trump on resolving trade war.The previous Conservative candidate won the riding with about 85% of the vote. "If Poilievre wins by less than that, and our candidate has 5%, 10% of the vote, that is sending a message — the people are not happy with the Conservative party in the West,” he said.When it comes to what is developing into the most pressing matter of the times — Western independence — Bernier says he would encourage Albertans to vote in favour of breaking from Ottawa; even if it doesn't actually lead to separation, it's going to force Ottawa’s hand on key issues.He compared the situation to the 1995 referendum on Quebec independence, where those in favour lost by just 1%."There's about 25% to 30% of the population in Alberta looking for separation. And I will tell them: if you're a separatist in Alberta, and you're fed up with Ottawa, we will be the only party that will support the separatist movement in Alberta," said Bernier."Because I wanted the federal government to respect our Constitution.".Bernier tells Western Canada the PPC will reduce equalization payments .In Quebec, those who voted to stay in Canada won by only 51% — and "nothing happened.""We have a worse, interventionist federal government now than we had in 1995. So I believe that Albertans must have that referendum on the separation, and they must vote yes, because that would be the only way to tell Ottawa and this establishment party, 'enough is enough. You need to respect the Constitution,'" said Bernier."And that would be the only way to have a new deal with Ottawa. And the new deal must respect our Constitution.""If you do that, you will have more autonomy for every province. And if Alberta has a new deal, that would be good for every province.""I believe in this country, but I will ask, as a federalist leader, believing in this country, if there's a referendum in Alberta in 2026 I will tell them, vote yes.""That's the only way to send a strong message.""If you don't vote yes, nothing will happen, and Ottawa won't do any changes. So, that's important. That's important for Alberta, but that's important for the country, for the unity of this country.”“I think that Danielle Smith would be able to have everything that she wants. Because Carney, I think he understands, if there's a referendum in Alberta, he will have to give more. I think that Danielle Smith would be able to have a deal with Carney, and so that would be a way to quiet the separatist movement. For a time.”"But the real solution is to have that smaller government in Ottawa that is respecting the Constitution.".WATCH: Bernier defends parent ejected from school board over land acknowledgment objections.Bernier’s chief concern moving forward is "radical decentralization" where Ottawa would "respect the Constitution" when it comes to provincial versus federal jurisdictions, like healthcare, police forces, pension plans and natural resources and infrastructure projects."The federal government is interfering in provincial jurisdiction," he said."Healthcare is supposed to be a 100% provincial jurisdiction in the Constitution, but … the federal government is spending money and giving money to provinces for 'healthcare with conditions' — and that must not be the case."The PPC’s radical decentralization proposal gives provinces the means to tax Canadians with the GST, which happens to be about the same amount, $52 billion, as the current healthcare transfer.Bernier argues the GST should be given to provinces so they will be able to raise money for their own healthcare."And the federal government won't transfer any money, because we will give them the GST that would become a provincial tax, and they will be able to raise money for healthcare, and they won't have to come to the federal government to ask for more money."
