In the Toronto Sun, David Akin looks at Bernier’s campaign to be the next federal Conservative leader:
“I want a freer and more prosperous country,” Bernier said. “And the way to do that is to have a limited government. I’m a real Conservative. I believe in freedom, responsibility, fairness and respect. That’s the four themes of my campaign. Every public policy will be based on these four themes.”
He is convinced that a campaign of ideas will win both his party’s leadership and the prime minister’s office.
But some of those ideas may be a tough sell in some regions.
No more corporate handouts for the likes of Bombardier or General Motors, for example.
And even though his riding has a huge number of dairy, egg and poultry farmers, he vows to end the high tariffs that protect them from foreign competition and force consumers to pay higher food costs.
He will offer to caucus colleagues and to the party’s grassroots a more inclusive style of leadership than Stephen Harper’s.
Riding associations should be free to pick their own candidates, Bernier said, without interference from the leader. And if MPs want to debate issues or introduce legislation that is at odds with the leader, Bernier would be OK with that.
Bernier, like Harper, has no intention, for example, of going anywhere near abortion but if any of the 10 Conservative MPs at the annual anti-abortion rally last week wanted to introduce a private members’ bill on the subject, they would be free to do so and his caucus would be allowed a free vote.
Bernier would personally focus on smaller government.
“Be a strong government, but in your own jurisdiction. When you have a smaller government, you have more freedom; when you have more more freedom, you have more prosperity,” said Bernier.
“I believe in free markets and I think we must speak about what we believe to Canadians with passion and with conviction.”
I’ve been on record as being a fan of Bernier’s since at least 2010, so I have to admit being quite partial to him winning the Tory leadership.
