Maxime Bernier launched the People’s Party of Canada campaign with a speech to supporters in Quebec on Sunday.
In his own riding of Beauce, Quebec, Bernier unveiled the pillars of its platform, which include “bold policies” centered around “fairness and respect.”
“This is the final sprint in a marathon that started a year ago,” he said. One year ago, Bernier left Conservative Party, which he refers to as “morally and intellectually corrupt,” to form his own party.
In his speech, he outlined his party’s position on many different issues, including climate change.
“All the other parties want to impose a carbon tax or more regulation to fight climate change. The People’s Party is the only party that will not impose any new tax or regulation,” he said.
Bernier also brought up the upcoming debate, which he has not been invited to participate in.
“We are the fasted growing political party in Canadian history. Why are other parties so afraid of us that they want to prevent me from participating in the leader’s debate?” he said.
He believes one of the reasons his counterparts won’t debate him is because he “does politics differently.”
As part of his platform, Bernier says if elected, he would reduce Canada’s presence in the United Nations “to a minimum.”
“We will help Canadians first before helping other countries. The People’s Party is the only party that will redraw (sic) from the global compact on migration and on the Paris Accord,” he said.
Bernier says he wants to put Canada first, and would also decrease foreign aid spending if elected.
Lowering taxes and protecting free speech are also key platform points for the PPC.
Bernier notes that voting numbers are down, with only one third of eligible voters showing up to the polls.
“They see the deception, and they don’t believe anything will come, any change will come, until today, because we are the only alternative.”
The PPC’s are currently running over 300 candidates in ridings across the country.
