THUNDER BAY – POLITICS – As leader of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC), Maxime Bernier remains a polarizing but persistent voice in Canadian federal politics.
Founded in 2018 after his departure from the Conservative Party, Bernier’s PPC appeals to voters disillusioned with mainstream parties — offering a platform rooted in personal liberty, Canadian sovereignty, and radical deregulation.
Bernier ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party against Andrew Scheer and lost. He left the party to form a new political movement.
In Northern Ontario, where concerns about federal overreach, cost-of-living pressures, and vaccine mandates have generated political tension, Bernier’s message continues to resonate with a small but vocal segment of the electorate — particularly in rural and resource-dependent communities.
Political Background: From Conservative Insider to Outsider Advocate
Bernier, a former businessman and lawyer, was elected as a Conservative MP for Beauce (Québec) in 2006. Under Stephen Harper, he held cabinet positions including Minister of Industry and Minister of Foreign Affairs, but later became known for clashing with party orthodoxy on issues like supply management and centralized governance.
After losing the 2017 Conservative leadership race to Andrew Scheer by a narrow margin, Bernier left the party and founded the People’s Party of Canada, branding it a true conservative and libertarian alternative.
Platform Priorities: Freedom, Deregulation, and Canadian Sovereignty
Bernier’s PPC platform is built on a few central pillars:
✅ End to “Government Overreach”
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Complete repeal of carbon pricing and climate regulations
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Opposition to vaccine mandates, mask mandates, and pandemic-related restrictions
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Reduced role of federal government in health, education, and natural resource sectors
✅ Fiscal Conservatism
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Balanced budgets and debt reduction through deep cuts to federal spending
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Elimination of corporate welfare, foreign aid, and multiculturalism programs
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Flat tax proposals and simplification of the tax code
✅ National Sovereignty
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Withdrawal from UN agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and Global Compact for Migration
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Strict limits on immigration, proposing cutting immigration levels by over 50%
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Ban on “political correctness” in government and media funding
PPC in Northwestern Ontario: Resonance with Discontent
While the PPC has yet to win a federal seat, it gained momentum in rural and northern communities during the 2021 federal election, including areas of Thunder Bay–Rainy River and Kenora, where voters expressed frustration with lockdowns, carbon taxes, and cost-of-living spikes.
Bernier’s populist message finds support among those who feel the government:
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Interferes too heavily in personal freedoms and business
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Neglects rural priorities in favour of urban liberalism
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Pushes aggressive climate and social policies without local consultation
However, the party has also faced criticism and controversy for stoking anti-vaccine, anti-immigration, and anti-globalist rhetoric — themes that concern many mainstream voters and community leaders.
Criticism #1: Ties to Extremist Movements and Anti-Science Messaging
Bernier has been criticized for aligning with COVID-19 conspiracy groups, Freedom Convoy protestors, and others who challenge democratic norms. His party frequently promotes messages opposing “wokeism,” public health experts, and international institutions.
Critics warn this style of politics may undermine social cohesion and promote misinformation, particularly around public health and climate science.
Criticism #2: Lack of Representation and Impact
Despite strong online engagement and vocal supporters, the PPC has:
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No seats in Parliament
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Limited influence in policy-making
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A platform that is often described as ideologically rigid, with little room for compromise
Bernier himself has lost his seat twice, most recently in a 2023 by-election in Portage–Lisgar, suggesting challenges in expanding his base beyond protest votes.
Criticism #3: Policies Could Undermine Northern Priorities
Many of Bernier’s platform positions — such as eliminating federal environmental oversight and cutting Indigenous support programs — are deeply at odds with Northern Ontario’s complex needs, including:
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Reconciliation and Indigenous partnerships in resource development
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Federal support for healthcare and infrastructure in remote areas
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Environmental protection in sensitive ecosystems
Conclusion: A Voice for Discontent — But Can It Deliver?
Maxime Bernier and the PPC offer a starkly different vision of Canada — one where government is smaller, globalism is rejected, and individual freedom is paramount. For some in Northwestern Ontario, especially those feeling economically or culturally alienated, this message resonates.
But Bernier’s challenge remains turning that message into real electoral success — and addressing the perception that his policies are more about protest than pragmatic solutions.
