Will Bernier's Manitoba bid shake up Canadian politics? PPC leader enters byelection

Eva Homicio

People's Party of Canada (PPC) leader, Maxime Bernier, is set to contest an impending byelection in Manitoba, as revealed by Radio-Canada. 

Bernier, once a cabinet minister, defected from the Conservative caucus in 2018 to establish the PPC. His official candidacy announcement is expected to be made in Portage la Prairie on Friday.

This move follows the vacancy left in the riding of Portage-Lisgar by Candice Bergen, a long-term Conservative Member of Parliament (MP). Bergen, who had served as the interim leader of the Conservative Party in the previous year, stepped down from her position in February.

The PPC has previously made inroads in this riding, with the party's candidate securing 22% of the votes in the 2021 elections, finishing in second place. The byelection now presents an opportunity for Bernier and his party to potentially secure a seat in the House of Commons.

Bernier's decision to run marks another chapter in his political journey, which has seen him transition from a cabinet minister in the Conservative government to leading a party that champions more libertarian policies. 

His leadership of the PPC has been marked by a staunch commitment to principles of individual freedom and limited government.

The People's Party of Canada, under Bernier's leadership, has often been in the headlines for its controversial stances on issues such as immigration and climate change. However, Bernier has remained.

The People's Party of Canada (PPC) is a federal political party in Canada, founded by Maxime Bernier in 2018. The PPC was established after Bernier, a long-time member of the Conservative Party of Canada, left the Conservatives due to ideological differences and disagreements with party leadership.

The PPC is often described as a populist and libertarian party, with policies that focus on individual freedom, free markets, and reducing the role of government in citizens' lives. 

The party's platform includes reducing immigration levels, eliminating the federal carbon tax, reducing government intervention in the economy, and protecting freedom of speech.

Maxime Bernier, the founder and leader of the PPC, is a prominent Canadian politician. Born in 1963 in Saint-Georges, Quebec, Bernier has a long history in Canadian politics. 

Before founding the PPC, he held various positions within the Conservative Party, including Minister of Industry and Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Bernier is known for his libertarian views and his advocacy for smaller government and greater personal freedoms. He has often been a controversial figure in Canadian politics, due to his outspoken criticism of multiculturalism and political correctness. 

Despite the controversy, Bernier has remained a significant figure within the Canadian political landscape, leading the PPC in federal elections and shaping its political platform. 

Earlier we reported: Canada's passport gets a major makeover: security, design convenience upgraded (photo, video)

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