One-On-One With Maxime Bernier

The People’s Party of Canada may be new this election, but its leader thinks that will help them.

Maxime Bernier has spent the past few days in New Brunswick meeting candidates and supporters.

In a one-on-one interview, Bernier said he wants people to know the party is fighting for them.

“Our goal is to put forward policies that will help people to have a more affordable life because, as you know, the price of living is very high and we need to give them more of their own money in their own pockets,” said Bernier.

The party was formed by Bernier last September after his resignation from the Conservative party.

Bernier said many Canadians he has talked to are “fed up” with the traditional political parties.

He noted 30 per cent of eligible voters did not cast a ballot during the 2015 election.

“We are doing politics differently,” Bernier said. “For us, there’s no taboo subject, there’s no political correctness, and I think the population appreciates that. We are telling the truth, what we think it’s important to do in this country for a better future.”

“That’s why I think we will be able to make a huge surprise on the 21st of October.”

Biggest Issues For Voters

Bernier said he believes one of the biggest issues for voters in the election campaign will be the economy.

“We have a plan to be able to balance the budget in two years,” he said. “We’ll do that by saving $5 billion corporate welfare, saving about $4 billion in foreign aid.”

Bernier also promised to save Canadians $35 billion a year through changes to the tax system.

The People’s Party also proposes capping immigration at 150,000 people per year and placing a larger focus on economic immigrants.

“We need to have a discussion about immigration, it is not sustainable right now,” Bernier said.

“When you have 49 per cent of the population that want fewer immigrants, we need to be able to answer that.”

The party plans to have a full slate of candidates, which Bernier describes as a “big achievement” for a new party.

Voters will head to the polls on Oct. 21.