The newly minted People鈥檚 Party of Canada has one major hurdle in 2019, and apparently it isn鈥檛 named Justin Trudeau or Andrew Scheer. According to leader Maxime Bernier, his new party has one big challenge heading into the 2019 election: name recognition.
鈥淧eople, they don鈥檛 know the name of our party. People鈥檚 Party of Canada. So my challenge is people must make the relationship between Maxime Bernier and People鈥檚 Party,鈥� Bernier told Power Play host Don Martin on Monday鈥檚 episode.
Bernier established his party just four months ago after his dramatic departure from the Conservative Party, which he belonged to for over a decade. He says he has set up 338 riding associations -- one for each seat in the House of Commons -- in the hopes of being a force in the fall election.
The People鈥檚 Party also announced the names of two candidates it plans to run in upcoming byelections. Laura Lynn Tyler Thompson will join candidates -- including NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh -- in Burnaby South, while Jennifer Clarke will run in Nanaimo-Ladysmith.
The byelections will be the first time Canadians get to vote with a People鈥檚 Party candidate on the ticket.
鈥淭hat would be a big test for us 鈥� the byelections. I鈥檒l be there and we鈥檒l see our result 鈥� but I鈥檓 pretty happy with what鈥檚 happening right now,鈥� Bernier said.
While Bernier has yet to unveil his party鈥檚 platform, he said it鈥檚 鈥�80 per cent鈥� finished and mirrors his platform from his 2017 bid for Conservative Party leadership
鈥淭here is no taboo subject for us. We are speaking for what it is important for the future of our country, and I will travel and speak about that all 2019,鈥� he said.
Bernier also highlighted his party鈥檚 push for less immigration.
鈥淲e believe in immigration, and we鈥檙e the only party to speak that we must have lower, fewer immigrants,鈥� he said.
The People鈥檚 Party leader plans to take his message across Canada in 2019
鈥淚 did a tour in Western Canada before the end of December. [In] early January I鈥檒l be in Eastern Canada in Halifax, in Saint John New Brunswick, I鈥檒l be back in Calgary, so I鈥檓 campaigning,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e have a platform, a very strong platform -- and we鈥檙e ready.鈥�
