PPC leader Maxime Bernier on Monday said the People’s Party is a “real alternative” to federal establishment parties he says are all cut from the same cloth.
The PPC has secured candidates in 310 ridings, more than any other federal party. Leger and CBC polls has them polling about 2.3%, and 338Canada and Abacus pollsters fail to mention the PPC, though they are a registered federal party.
Bernier said he plans to do everything he possibly can to make it on-stage for the federal leaders debate, which has been scheduled for April 16 in French and April 17 in English.
“Without us, that won't be a real debate,” he said.
“We are the only real alternative.”
“This country is not in good shape. It is time for a strong reform, and the People's Party of Canada is there for that.”
A third, separate debate has been proposed, which would be hosted on a French-language private network and costs $75,000 for a buy-in.
Bernier told the Western Standard he is prepared to spend the money and participate in the debate even if the PPC does not meet the 4% polling threshold to be eligible for the public debates.
“We are the only party that is proposing policies that are very different and are important for the future of this country — the Liberals and Conservatives are right now doing an electoral campaign, not for Canadians, but against President Trump,” said Bernier.
The PPC’s platform has four main pillars.
Bernier promises to stop mass immigration by way of moratorium. “To preserve our culture, our standard of living, our economy,” said Bernier.
The PPC will end woke DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) ideology and instead support unity, equality of rights and meritocracy. “We will end that radical ideology,” said Bernier.
“There's only two sexes, not three, not four, only two. All the money that the federal government is giving to promote that woke ideology, we will cut all that.
Will balance the budget, cut spending and cut taxes by slashing $8 billion in foreign aid, including spending to fund Ukraine war efforts, and $10 billion in corporate welfare spending. “We are paying $52 billion on the interest alone on our debt every year — imagine what we can do with $52 billion” he said.
Be pro-Canada, not globalist — meaning the PPC will withdraw from the radical Paris Accord climate agreements and UN migration pacts signed by former Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and leave the World Health Organization.
“We are a sovereign country,” said Bernier.
“We are the alternative that is fighting for individual freedom, personal responsibility, respect and fairness.”
“The main establishment political parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives, are not doing politics by principles, by convictions — they're looking at the polls. And after that, they come back with a new policy.”
As an example of this claim, Bernier said both Liberal leader Mark Carney and Tory leader Pierre Poilievre flip-flop on carbon tax and environment issues.
Carney was the UN Special Envoy for Climate Action where he pushed fighting climate change with the carbon tax, and he was promoting that at the international level, Bernier pointed out, adding Carney was also pushing Trudeau to adopt the carbon tax while he was the former prime minister’s economic adviser.
“But now, because he is the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, he said he will abolish the carbon tax, but also he will impose more [corporate] regulations, and that would be costly for Canadians,” said Bernier.
“Flip flop.”
“As for Poilievre, he wanted an election on the ‘axe the tax’ — that's a nice slogan, but he won't be able to have an election on ‘axe the tax’ because the Liberals decided to ‘axe the tax’ also.
“But he has now flip flopped again.”
“He said recently that he will have an industrial carbon tax but then said again he won't impose an industrial carbon tax.”
“Another flip flop.”
“But both of them support the Paris Accords. They are, both of them, proposing to replace the carbon tax with carbon capture technology.”
“I have a question for both of them — did you fail your Biology 101 course? Why do you want to spend billions of dollars on this inefficient and costly technology to capture CO2?" said Bernier.
“We don't need a technology to capture CO2. We already have a very efficient and natural technology to do it.
“Yes, plants! Yes, CO2 is food for plants, not a pollutant.”
“I'm asking you guys [Poilievre and Carney] to stop bullshitting Canadians on this issue. Tell them the truth.”
“The PPC is doing that. We are telling you the truth. CO2 is a gas that is essential for life, is food for plants, and the PPC will be the only national political party that will withdraw from the Paris Accord and won't impose any climate change programs, because there's no climate emergency.”
