PPC Leader Maxime Bernier and several candidates, including Laura Lynn Tyler Thompson, who will run in Red Deer-Lacombe, rallied supporters in Red Deer on Thursday. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

RALLYING THE TROOPS

PPC leader Maxime Bernier slams Trudeau, Scheer during Red Deer rally

Jul 11, 2019 | 6:19 PM

The leader of Canada’s newest federal political party is ramping up his campaign ahead of this October’s election.

Maxime Bernier, who founded the People’s Party of Canada last fall after leaving the Conservatives, said in Red Deer on Thursday he will do everything in his power to ensure neither Justin Trudeau nor Andrew Scheer become prime minister.

“I’m pretty sure here that Justin Trudeau won’t be able to elect one candidate, so the real choice is between a fake conservative and us,” Bernier suggested.

“I will (also) work very hard to make sure Justin Trudeau won’t have 47 seats in Quebec after the next election. We are very popular in Quebec and I can have a lot of seats in Quebec… and the Conservatives don’t want to speak about the real issues for Albertans.”

Bernier also spoke about his plan to streamline consultations and utilize Section 92(10) of the Canadian Constitution, which he explains would give the federal government full authority to build pipelines.

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“That section in the Constitution has been used more than 300 times to build national infrastructure, so let’s do it. We’re ready to do it,” he says. “That’s the only way to build a pipeline when you have a province that is against it.”

Bernier promised that a PPC government would balance the budget by restricting foreign aid.

“It is not our job to build roads in Africa. It is not our job to fight climate change in Africa,” he remarked.

Bernier said they could also save $100 million by cutting the CBC, and by not giving massive subsidies to corporations like SNC Lavalin, Bombardier and General Motors.

He also stated this his party, and his party only, is committed to not going along with the Paris Accord.

“If you are a real conservative in Alberta, look at our platform. Then look at Andrew Scheer’s platform. It’s a centrist platform, and he is for the Paris Accord,” said Bernier. “We know the climate is always changing, but the question is, is the main reason because of human activity? Scheer will do everything to achieve the targets of the Paris Accord.”

Bernier took questions from media about his photo last weekend in Calgary with members of the Northern Guard — an organization described as a hate group. He said that all of his events are public and that he doesn’t screen people who want to attend them.

“We want everybody to hear our message. If I’m taking a photo with them, it doesn’t mean I share their views. We need people who share our Canadian values, so that’s important. That happened this weekend and that can happen in the future because I’m not asking the backgrounds and beliefs of these people. When people ask me to take a photo, I will do that,” he said.

“Most important is people understand this party believes in a real free market, real values, respect, personal responsibility, freedom and fairness. That’s our party.”