The 2019 Canadian election came with its fair share surprises, after the political bloodshed of the campaign coagulated, it was in this moment I had realized just how many games people play. Preceding the decision to write this article, I wanted to know the most scandalous events that had taken place; so, I did what any notable Journalist would do, I turned to Vice News. I discovered that Politics is full of scandals, people whom lie, implicit and hidden agendas, and more lies. I don’t even know why he got a seat at the big debate, but Maxime Bernier, formerly of The Conservative Party of Ontario, stood out leading his People’s Party of Canada (PPC) through what many view as “Right-wing” ideals; that his “message largely echoed right-wing populists that have had electoral success in the United States and parts of Europe” (https://globalnews.ca/news/6074161/peoples-party-maxime-bernier-populism/). Later, it was said that Mr. Bernier wants his new party to be known for its “intelligent populism.” (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-maxime-bernier-taps-into-immigration-controversy-as-he-launches-people/).

I found it quite a breathe of fresh air that Bernier had tweeted that he felt Greta Thunberg was “Mentally Unstable”, even though he later removed the tweet; later, referring to her stances as “too extreme” on climate change. (https://www.timescolonist.com/thunberg-too-extreme-immigration-needs-limiting-bernier-says-in-b-c-1.23957566).

However, on the surface, it would seem that the PPC is lost and out, posing no threat, and claiming no seats in the big house on the hill either. But when you dig deeper, you see that the PPC and Maxime Bernier ended up affecting a lot more than one would think, and left me posing the question “was the PPC just made to take seats away from the Tories”?

Even if Bernier didn’t exist, and the peoples party was not around, it’s not clear if constituents would have voted blue anyway. That didn’t stop the Liberal paper from pouring claims of conspiracy all over the Conservatives, Global News writes “In the last week of the campaign, the Globe and Mail reported the Conservatives hired an outside firm to “seek and destroy” Bernier’s party, so concerned were they that the PPC would steal votes.” (https://www.timescolonist.com/thunberg-too-extreme-immigration-needs-limiting-bernier-says-in-b-c-1.23957566).

It’s fairly evident that the Liberals, with the aid of the media, saw an opportunity to exploit a former Conservative leader into occupying, and tainting the efforts of Andrew Scheer and the Conservatives. if we look into the history of Maxime Bernier in relation to the Conservative Party of Canada, it becomes easy to see that his party was part an outcry against the “intellectually and morally corrupt Conservatives”; also, a chance to take a stab at Andrew Scheer for beating him in a race to lead the Conservative party. MacLean’s Canada writes “Maxime Bernier might have best been remembered for one of two things. First, a 2008 scandal when, as a star federal cabinet minister under Stephen Harper, he left top secret documents at the home of a girlfriend who had links to the Hells Angels. And second, losing the Conservative leadership race to Andrew Scheer” (https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/federal-leaders-debate-who-is-max-bernier-and-why-is-he-here/)

I mean, this isn’t that hard to figure out. Maxime Bernier’s whole purpose was to be a disruptor, pulling votes from the conservatives, we see that when voters are presented with an overly complicated decision, if they end up voting at all, they end up thrrowing at a party like the Green party. During the last televised debate, he constantly started talking over people (as did other Candidates, with the exception of the very curteous and former Green Party leader, Elizabeth May). What has Bernier awaken in Canadians, will the immigration policies of the United States reflecy poorly on the views of Canadian multiculturalism and diversity?

I wonder how things would have played out without the PPC and Mr. Bernier….