People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier took aim at both mainstream federal party leaders and positioned the PPC as a distinct alternative to the Conservatives during a Calgary campaign stop on Tuesday. Read More
The PPC made notable gains in Alberta in the last federal election, more than doubling its vote share in all of its Calgary ridings; despite these gains, the party failed to win a single seat nationally
The PPC made notable gains in Alberta in the last federal election, more than doubling its vote share in all of its Calgary ridings; despite these gains, the party failed to win a single seat nationally
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People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier took aim at both mainstream federal party leaders and positioned the PPC as a distinct alternative to the Conservatives during a Calgary campaign stop on Tuesday.
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During a morning press conference outside the Harry Hays building in downtown Calgary, Bernier drew sharp contrasts between his platform and that of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, making bold promises on issues such as government spending, climate change, immigration and U.S.-Canada trade tensions.
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With less than two weeks until election day, the press conference marked Bernier’s first Calgary appearance of the 2025 federal campaign. He is the second federal leader to visit Calgary during the campaign, following Liberal Leader Mark Carney’s rally last week.
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Joined by several PPC candidates running in Calgary-area ridings, the PPC leader kicked off his remarks raising concerns about federal overreach in provincial affairs and what he called “the erosion of provincial autonomy.”
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“The federal government now interferes in many areas where it has no business, such as healthcare, education, natural resources, housing, local infrastructures and many other domains that are explicitly under provincial jurisdictions,” he said.
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Bernier argued this federal “intrusion” creates inefficiencies and a lack of accountability.
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“By concentrating power in Ottawa, the federal government is eroding the ability of provinces to govern efficiently and respond to the needs of their citizens.”
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He said federal interference “feeds” separatist movements in Alberta and Quebec.
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“It is time for Ottawa to mind its own business,” he said.
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The fringe party made notable gains in Alberta in the last federal election, more than doubling its vote share in all of its Calgary ridings. It outperformed the Liberals in part of rural Alberta, earning as much as 10 per cent of votes in rural Alberta ridings. Despite these gains, the party failed to win a single seat nationally.
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The PPC captured 7.3 per cent of the Alberta vote and 6.8 per cent in Saskatchewan in the last federal election — its strongest provincial showings. Nationally, the party earned 4.9 per cent of votes.
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However, national polling shows declining support for the party in a tight race between the Conservatives and Liberals.
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The latest 338Canada national polling aggregates show the party having around one per cent of votes.
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The party’s platform in this election seems largely focused on drawing lines with the federal conservatives, amid concerns about conservative vote-splitting and political experts speculating the party’s supporters will cast their vote for the Conservatives to avoid a Liberal win.