Maxime Bernier Quits Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives To Form His Own Federal Party

[Anonymous]

Justin Trudeau is now guaranteed another majority mandate.



HALIFAX — Maxime Bernier is forming his own pan-Canadian political party.



The party will be based on right-wing free-market principles. A senior advisor told HuffPost it could be comparable to Alberta's Wildrose party.



"I don't know what's going to happen. It's a big gamble," a source close to Bernier told HuffPost Canada Thursday morning. "But Maxime, he is there to defend his ideas. He doesn't want to make any more compromises."



Up until two weeks ago, Bernier fully intended to run as a Tory in the next election. He planned to challenge the current leader, Andrew Scheer, should he be defeated in the next election and a leadership vote declared.

But after the Quebec MP sent a series of tweets criticizing the Liberals for embracing too much diversity, the source said it became clear that the former cabinet minister might get kicked out of the caucus and that his views may not be welcomed.



"The tweets unleashed a response that made it that this was no longer possible," the source said. "[Bernier] became convinced that it wasn't possible to reform for this party, to fight for the Conservative and libertarian values that he believes in."

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/parliamenthill/maxime-bernier-quits-andrew-scheer%E2%80%99s-conservatives-to-form-his-own-federal-party/ar-BBMlsdb?li=AAggNb9&ocid=mailsignout">https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/parliame ... ailsignout">https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/parliamenthill/maxime-bernier-quits-andrew-scheer%E2%80%99s-conservatives-to-form-his-own-federal-party/ar-BBMlsdb?li=AAggNb9&ocid=mailsignout

[Anonymous]

The federal Conservatives are holding their annual policy convention in Halifax. They had hoped to be discussing Trudeau's dismal record not Max Bernier's antics.



From Canadian Press



OTTAWA — In an attempt to set the narrative for this week's policy convention in halifax, andrew scheer's Conservative team laid out its policy agenda for "fair, orderly and compassionate" immigration, but once again was knocked off message by maverick caucus member Maxime Bernier.



Conservative immigration critic Michelle rempel and treasury board critic gerard deltell held a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday to unveil the party's immigration platform, which includes a plan to travel across the country to hear Canadians' views.



rempel criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for what she says has been the lack of a clear vision on immigration policy. This has led to a polarization of debate over how Canada should manage the flow of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, she said.



Canada needs a multipronged immigration plan given competing demands, rempel said.



she pointed to calls from advocacy groups for Canada to take more refugees amid an influx of tens of thousands of irregular border crossers, as well as requests from industry and business groups for more immigration to sustain local economies in areas that also face high unemployment rates.



"Canada is and should remain a country that welcomes newcomers," she said.

[Anonymous]

Very interesting times we are in Seoul..



I see disgraced former UCP finance critic. Derek Fildebrandt is supporting Maxime Bernier's new party.



Maverick MLA Derek Fildebrandt says he supports Conservative MP Maxime Bernier's blasts on Canadian diversity, noting that his new provincial Freedom Conservative Party will push for Alberta to have more control over immigration.



Bernier, the Quebec MP who narrowly lost the Conservative leadership last year, has made waves over the past two weeks as he tweeted about the dangers of "extreme multiculturalism" under the Trudeau government, warning that "more diversity . . . will destroy what has made us such a great country."



He suggested Tuesday on Twitter that Canadian immigration levels are too high.



Fildebrandt, who backed Bernier for the Tory leadership, said Bernier's position is "broadly accepted by the majority of Albertans and Canadians."



"The vast majority . . . support a welcoming immigration and refugee system, but there needs to be reasonable limits to all things," said Fildebrandt, adding that diversity is positive but must be underpinned by shared values.



"I don't think there's anything untoward about what he said. It certainly causes many in the political class to lose their breakfast."



Fildebrandt, the MLA for Strathmore-Brooks, founded the Freedom Conservative Party in July following his ouster from the United Conservative Party earlier this year.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/fildebrandt-backs-bernier-on-diversity-issue-says-new-party-wants-more-immigration-powers-for-alberta">https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics ... or-alberta">https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/fildebrandt-backs-bernier-on-diversity-issue-says-new-party-wants-more-immigration-powers-for-alberta

[Anonymous]

Justin Trudeau is now guaranteed another majority mandate.



HALIFAX — Maxime Bernier is forming his own pan-Canadian political party.



The party will be based on right-wing free-market principles. A senior advisor told HuffPost it could be comparable to Alberta's Wildrose party.



"I don't know what's going to happen. It's a big gamble," a source close to Bernier told HuffPost Canada Thursday morning. "But Maxime, he is there to defend his ideas. He doesn't want to make any more compromises."



Up until two weeks ago, Bernier fully intended to run as a Tory in the next election. He planned to challenge the current leader, Andrew Scheer, should he be defeated in the next election and a leadership vote declared.

But after the Quebec MP sent a series of tweets criticizing the Liberals for embracing too much diversity, the source said it became clear that the former cabinet minister might get kicked out of the caucus and that his views may not be welcomed.



"The tweets unleashed a response that made it that this was no longer possible," the source said. "[Bernier] became convinced that it wasn't possible to reform for this party, to fight for the Conservative and libertarian values that he believes in."

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/parliamenthill/maxime-bernier-quits-andrew-scheer%E2%80%99s-conservatives-to-form-his-own-federal-party/ar-BBMlsdb?li=AAggNb9&ocid=mailsignout">https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/parliame ... ailsignout">https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/parliamenthill/maxime-bernier-quits-andrew-scheer%E2%80%99s-conservatives-to-form-his-own-federal-party/ar-BBMlsdb?li=AAggNb9&ocid=mailsignout

WOW!

[Anonymous]

Is Bernier working for Justine. It sure looks that way.

[Anonymous]

I don't trust any conservative.

[Anonymous]

I don't trust any conservative.

Who do you trust? Justin? Jagmeet Singh? Elizabeth May perhaps?

[JOE]

....not necessarily.



Bernier may not have the momentum or the support to carry out his plan.



He could easily fizzle.



The vast majority of Tories still recognize Scheer as the legitimate eader.



Bernier is perceived as a renegade & a sore loser.



I think he has a difficult time accepting that he lost.



So this is his way of getting back at Scheer.



Same time doesnt seem Scheer did a good enough job mending fences.



Quebec has always been a thorn in the Tories side.

Justin Trudeau is now guaranteed another majority mandate.

[Anonymous]

Andrew Scheer is also very much to blame in this Maxime Bernier saga.



From Candace Malcolm of Sun News Media



The Conservative Party of Canada is gathering in Halifax this weekend, and it's time for the party to take a long, hard look in the mirror.



Maxime Bernier, a principled advocate for free-market principles and an outspoken critic of vile Leftist forces, has left the party, saying that "the Conservative Party has abandoned conservatives."



I've heard from many conservatives — both party members, and non-partisans who've supported the CPC in the past —  who completely agree.



They are disappointed with CPC Leader Andrew Scheer and concerned about his commitment to conservative fundamentals.



Scheer has thus far failed to inspire the grassroots of the party. He has yet to define himself as a conservative or reveal his platform, his policies or his priorities.



What does Andrew Scheer stand for? What issues does he care about? Your guess is as good as mine.



During the CPC leadership race, Scheer talked a good game on freedom of speech issues. He pledged to defund Canadian universities who suppress free speech on campus.



This excited many who are concerned with the growing hostility to the free exchange of ideas and the increasing indoctrination at our public universities.



After Scheer won the CPC leadership race — just barely, on the 13th ballot with only 50.95% of the vote — he had the perfect opportunity to explain his campus free speech policy.



A scandal rocked Wilfrid Laurier University over the very issue of freedom of speech.



A graduate student led a classroom discussion about an Orwellian law that could force Canadians to use made-up words. Her adviser didn't want students to hear both sides of the debate, and so, the grad student was reprimanded by a group of administrators behaving like Marxists.



It was the perfect opportunity for Scheer — and he jumped to say the incident was "egregious."



But when asked about withholding federal funds, as he had pledged months earlier, he said he wouldn't intervene if he were prime minister. He immediately backed down from his earlier stance to avoid controversy.



This has become a pattern for Scheer. He's failed to stand up to the left-wing media, refuses to fight back on key issues — from terrorism to trade — and repeatedly takes positions that oppose core conservative values of freedom of the press, free trade and economic freedom.



One promise Scheer has kept is propping up a socialist quota scheme for his supporters in the dairy lobby.



Bernier made a mistake by leaving the CPC. He should have stayed to keep Scheer accountable and advocate for issues important to so many Canadians.



But Scheer is also to blame. His job is to unite conservatives and manage the big tent coalition. Instead, he failed to work with Bernier or offer an olive branch on the policy front.



Scheer seemed to forget that Bernier has a large following behind him, and may have been leader had it not been for the byzantine voting scheme used in the CPC leadership race. Bernier was chosen as the top-ranked candidate by significantly more Conservative members than Scheer (22% for Scheer, 29% for Bernier). It took 13 ballots for Scheer to edge ahead.



Canadians want a choice in 2019. If they want a nice guy who calls himself a feminist, believes in big government, champions corporate welfare and follows the opinions of elites rather than the broader Canadian public, they'll vote for Trudeau.



Conservatives should offer something different, and Scheer needs to step up and find his conservative voice.

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/malcolm-andrew-scheer-is-also-very-much-to-blame-in-this-maxime-bernier-saga">https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnis ... rnier-saga">https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/malcolm-andrew-scheer-is-also-very-much-to-blame-in-this-maxime-bernier-saga

[JOE]

Actually  seoulbro the sun columnist has got it wrong.



Canadians just want a moderate small l liberal or small c conservative to be the pm.



Not another Quebec ideologue like Trudeau or Bernier



As someone who  does not consider himself a Conservative I feel that Bernier comes across as a sore loser & he'd projecting his disappointment at the outcome of the conservative leadership on the rest of Canada at the expense of his own party.



I share the concerns of Conservatives over Trudeaus spendthrift ways.



He's not fiscally responsible.



Scheer was right for criticizing  Trudeaus inability to deliver a balanced budget.



Also liberals like myself haven't really seen any major improvements under Trudeau as opposed to Harper.



We see all this money being spent on infrastructure which doesn't necessarily benefit the common person.



So  I might vote for Scheet next time out

[Anonymous]

Actually  seoulbro the sun columnist has got it wrong.



Canadians just want a moderate small l liberal or small c conservative to be the pm.

No, you got it wrong. The article is about paid members of the CPC, not Canadian voters.