PPC Leader Addresses Supporters At Moose Jaw Rally

It may have been an appearance met with a small protest about his perceived or otherwise views but People’s Party of Canada (PPC) leader Maxime Bernier seemingly walked on water past those who opposed him into a political rally preaching to approximately 200 supporters Thursday afternoon in Moose Jaw.

As part of his western swing in the 2021 campaign a seemingly re-invigorated political rock star at times mesmerized supporters with classic tunes of an evil Liberal government while introducing new musical sets about a new evil the Official Opposition Conservatives. Throwing in a little Western twang taking shots at the Maverick Party.

It was a rally where the cry of individual freedoms were being rapidly taken away and for Bernier the only solution to save what freedoms were left and restore all that had been lost was to vote for the PPC.

Throughout his speech Bernier did not mince words about what he saw as the biggest issue - freedoms being lost and eroded by all other political parties using the COVID - 19 pandemic to do it.

“You can call me Mad Max,” Bernier said to a round of applause capitalizing on the Mad Max moniker bestowed upon him by the Rhinoceros Party of Canada in the 2019 election campaign when they ran Montrealer Maxime Bernier against the PPC leader in his home riding.

“I’m mad because our country, our identity, our freedoms are under attack. Under attack by the Liberals, by the Conservatives who promote the COVID hysteria who impose lockdowns and the vaccine passport on us. I’m mad because our freedoms are under attack,” Bernier told the crowd.

“I’m mad because I am looking at a Prime Minister who is suppose to unite us but (Justin) Trudeau is the most divisive Prime Minister in our history,” he said to more applause. “He has divided us by race, by gender, by religion and now by vaccination status.”

Maxime Bernier spoke to about 200 supporters in Moose Jaw on Thursday afternoon - MJ Independent photo

“We know that freedom is the fundamental value that drives us together. Freedom is nothing less than the basis of our Western civilization,” he said drawing a round of applause from throughout the Mae Wilson Theatre.

Bernier took aim at what he said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was doing to the country - introducing more socialism into the government.

“Mr Trudeau you are putting our kids and our country at risk. We don’t want more and more socialism. I’m sorry we don’t live in a Communist country,” he said with those gathered responding with a louder and lengthier round of applause.

Bernier said the introduction of vaccine passports was a waste of time given the realities of the virus that causes COVID - 19.

“The virus does not care if you are vaccinated or not. Everybody can spread the virus,” he said to a more mixed round of applause. “And that is alright telling unvaccinated Canadians that they are dangerous. They are not dangerous, they are only strong Canadians that decided freely not to take the vaccine.”

Bernier said the PPC believes in freedom and it was up to Canadians to decide for themselves, whether or not, to be vaccinated. The same applied whether or not to wear a mask.

He changed the pitch of his speech by not only saying Trudeau was a main force vaccines and vaccine passports but so was Conservative Party leader Erin O’toole making use of false information to do so.

It was not a tune Bernier could play as he went on a political solo course by saying the information - data and statistics - out there showed COVID - 19 was dangerous for older people pre-existing conditions but not younger healthier people.

Bernier said people who are vaccinated can contract COVID - 19 but they would “have milder symptoms but also you can spread the virus, like me.” He had earlier told supporters he had not been vaccinated but gave no reason as why he had not been vaccinated.

KISSING BABIES? - Well not quite. Michelle Christie and son Barrett pose for a photograph with People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier following his speech. The PPC leader met with supporters to hear their concerns with many just wanting to have their photograph taken with Bernier.

“We don’t want to divide our society. We don’t want segregation and discrimination,” he said about being vaccinated or not vaccinated to a thunderous applause mixed with hoots and hollers. “We just want to unite everybody under the freedom umbrella.”

Bernier moved up a couple of chords as he hit a high E when it came to where freedom was heading.

“Everybody should live in a society where you do not have to show your papers,” he said, adding there was pushback from Canadians.

“That is why when Justin Trudeau is traveling across the country there are Canadians who are not happy,” he said to laughter, cheers and applause.

It should be noted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has had to cancel campaign events due to a large number of people unhappy about the COVID - 19 pandemic restrictions uttering profanities or worse - their numbers and behaviours making security at events impossible. Leaders of other major political parties have criticized the protestors who force the event cancellations.

Bernier said he is the only leader who will not condemn people’s rights to peacefully assemble and protest.

SEE RELATED - Bernier Greeted By Protestors

The PPC leader went on to point out and attack a recent policy that gave assistance to Black entrepreneurs only and said a PPC government would not fund entrepreneurs on the basis of race but any program to help entrepreneurs would help all entrepreneurs regardless of race.

It was a policy which drew loud applause from supporters.

Maxime Bernier (left) listens to the concerns of one of the rally’s attendees following his speech - MJ Independent photo

Bernier gave another example of what he called “racial politics” because the PPC had been phoned by a CBC reporter to enquire about the race, gender, LGBT and religion of their candidates an answer the Party could not provide.

“She (the CBC reporter) asked ‘why’ (the PPC did not know how diverse their candidates were when other Parties did) and we said we don’t care,” Bernier said which was followed by a loud and lengthy applause and hooting from supporters.

A key point for Bernier was granting more autonomy to the Provinces and shrinking Ottawa’s powers and bureaucracy to give more freedom to Canadians to make their own decisions as what is best for them.

“We at the PPC have faith in you. We have faith in you to have the ability and the right to make your own decisions and determine your own destiny. We don’t believe in a big fat government that would tell you what to do with your life.”

Bernier said the PPC would look after Canadians first and foremost and ensure Canadians have things like clean potable drinking water by cutting foreign aid. Monies previously spent abroad would instead go to help Canadians.

Cutting foreign aid would funnel $5 billion back to Canadians with additional funds to help out from cutting $1.2 billion that goes to the CBC.

A PPC government would move to balance the budget unlike Justin Trudeau or Conservative leader Erin O’Toole who would just let the budget balance itself out.

“They are saying the same thing Justin Trudeau was saying a couple of years ago the budget will balance itself.”

The PPCs were prepared to cut the subsidies to big corporations such as GM, Bombardier and SNC Lavalin and then help out all businesses by moving to a 10 percent flat tax that was fair for all entrepreneurs and would create prosperity.

The budget would be balanced in the second term because to do so now would be using borrowed money, something he said the Party was against.

Bernier took aim at the issue of vote splitting saying that the PPC was not doing that with the Conservatives as they were no longer on the right side of the political spectrum but in fact now Liberals.

“Who is splitting the vote is (Conservative leader) Erin O’Toole. He is splitting the Liberal vote.”

Bernier also said a vote for the fledgling Maverick Party was a wasted vote as they were only fielding 30 candidates in Western Canada where there are over 100 seats up for grabs. He said the Maverick Party was not serious and people who desired change needed to vote for the PPC.

He claimed the Maverick Party’s leader was not serious because he was not running for election anywhere.

“Why because he (Maverick Party interim leader Jay Hill) is working with the Conservative Party of Canada.”

Last week in other stops Bernier went as far as calling the Maverick Party “the Muppets of the Conservative Party.”

“If you are a separatist you must vote PPC…we are your last chance at the federal level…Don’t waste your vote on the Maverick Party.”

During his speech Bernier addressed the present immigration policies as not practical and despite calling for a reduction of the number of immigrants admitted annually of over 400,000 to 150,000 immigrants annually he said the PPC were pro and not anti-immigrant.

The Carbon Tax was a no go for the PPC who saw it as robbing from resource producing provinces. Having PPC MPs nationally would have them all working together to ensure pipelines would be built.

Bernier left the stage to a standing ovation but we will have to wait until September 20th, election date, to see if there is any encores.