The government-funded legacy media is trying its best to pretend it isn’t happening, but the word is still getting out. Poll after poll is indicating Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada (PPC) is pushing to real relevancy in poll after poll. The PPC has become a federal political force to be reckoned with, whether the establishment likes it or not..Some are trying to dismiss the PPC by saying “They won’t win any seats anyhow.”.Not so fast folks. Polling is indicating Maxime Bernier’s own riding of Beauce in Quebec is locked in a two-way race between the PPC and federal Conservatives. With only three points separating them, it’s very possible the PPC could pick up that seat. With some strong local candidates and motivated voters, it’s conceivable the PPC could grab a handful of seats in the election, though unlikely. The Greens have managed to do so with a much smaller national base of support.. beauce .Even if the PPC doesn’t manage to win any seats, it’s undeniable they will have an impact in this election. In the 2019 general election, 47 seats were won with a margin of less than 5%. The presence of PPC candidates is going to change the outcome in many ridings..Polls alone don’t tell the tale. Bernier’s campaign tour has been drawing large crowds throughout the West. Bernier drew well over a thousand people out to a farmer’s field in Winkler Man., of all places. Any party leader would be thrilled to get such a response at campaign rally in a small rural community.. rallyPeople’s Party Rally in Winkler, Manitoba .So what is leading to this groundswell in support now when the PPC couldn’t break 2% support in the 2019 election?.There are a number of factors..The PPC is the only significant party that unapologetically opposes forced-masking, mandatory vaccinations, and vaccine passports. This may only appeal to a minority of people, but those people are very motivated by this issue, and not that small in numbers. This is an issue that transcends traditional party lines..While vaccine hesitancy appears to be more predominant among conservative voters, it’s also well represented among traditional Green Party and other leftist supporters. With the collapse of the Green Party, the PPC provides the only place some can now place their vote against state-mandated medication..Middle-class “Pinterest moms” make up a large segment of the anti-vaccination movement as well. These folks are from a traditionally indifferent voting category and now they’ve been inspired to take part in the process. The PPC is harvesting brand new voters due to the pandemic and the heavy-handed response to it..Vaccination rates in Canada are tending to top out at about the 80% mark. Perhaps half of those who refuse vaccination are simply apathetic, but the other half is adamantly anti-vaccination and they want to stand up for themselves. Those truly opposed to vaccination are people who will not give up an inch on the issue. These people feel vaccines will harm them and their children and nothing is going to convince them to take part in that. While that may only make up perhaps 10% of the population, it’s an incredibly dedicated support base for a party. That makes up millions of people, many of whom are now door knocking, sign-waving, donating to and will be voting for the PPC..And for those who don’t know – but seem to care – I am double-vaccinated..The PPC is also cutting into traditional conservative support for the CPC. With every large spending promise and every flip-flop on conservative policies, Erin O’Toole may be gaining a few new Liberal voters, but he’s also shedding a number of supporters to the PPC. Firearms owners are mortified with O’Toole’s vow to keep Trudeau’s firearm ban legislation in contradiction with the CPC’s own platform. Energy workers and consumers are furious over O’Toole’s about-face on carbon taxes ,and libertarians are exhausted with O’Toole’s dedication to expanding the size and reach of government. Bernier’s PPC gives those disenchanted conservatives a place to land and they are incrementally making up a growing base for the PPC..While the PPC is drawing support from all sides of the political spectrum, it’s clear their growth threatens the CPC more than any other party. As O’Toole continues to pivot left in hopes of winning Central Canadian urban votes, more small-c conservatives and classical liberals move their support to the PPC. CPC support growth appears to have flatlined now and O’Toole may want to start to change tact. If he can’t gain new supporters or win back old ones, the CPC will find themselves in opposition yet again. They have done well, but haven’t gained the steam yet to win even a minority government by the numbers of today..The Tories are ignoring the appeal of the PPC at their peril..The new Maverick Party under the interim leadership of Jay Hill has been running a focused campaign in selected ridings, but they have been unable to catch momentum. They have simple missed the zeitgeist attracting disenfranchised Westerners: opposition to heavy-handed COVID restrictions and requirements, and a loathing of central authority in Ottawa..The PPC’s strong stance on decentralizing federal authority is attracting the support of regionalists and has deflated the Maverick a bit in this election. I suspect the Maverick may blossom one day, but not until if and when the Liberals are re-elected..Canada is going through an unprecedented challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters are irritable and unpredictable. Mistrust in the establishment, including its preferred political parties, is growing and the PPC has been capitalizing on this effectively. Momentum is everything in a campaign and right now, the PPC has it. With two weeks remaining in the campaign, the PPC could be well placed to surprise a lot of people on election night..Cory Morgan is the Alberta Political Columnist for the Western Standard and Host of the Cory Morgan Show
The government-funded legacy media is trying its best to pretend it isn’t happening, but the word is still getting out. Poll after poll is indicating Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada (PPC) is pushing to real relevancy in poll after poll. The PPC has become a federal political force to be reckoned with, whether the establishment likes it or not..Some are trying to dismiss the PPC by saying “They won’t win any seats anyhow.”.Not so fast folks. Polling is indicating Maxime Bernier’s own riding of Beauce in Quebec is locked in a two-way race between the PPC and federal Conservatives. With only three points separating them, it’s very possible the PPC could pick up that seat. With some strong local candidates and motivated voters, it’s conceivable the PPC could grab a handful of seats in the election, though unlikely. The Greens have managed to do so with a much smaller national base of support.. beauce .Even if the PPC doesn’t manage to win any seats, it’s undeniable they will have an impact in this election. In the 2019 general election, 47 seats were won with a margin of less than 5%. The presence of PPC candidates is going to change the outcome in many ridings..Polls alone don’t tell the tale. Bernier’s campaign tour has been drawing large crowds throughout the West. Bernier drew well over a thousand people out to a farmer’s field in Winkler Man., of all places. Any party leader would be thrilled to get such a response at campaign rally in a small rural community.. rallyPeople’s Party Rally in Winkler, Manitoba .So what is leading to this groundswell in support now when the PPC couldn’t break 2% support in the 2019 election?.There are a number of factors..The PPC is the only significant party that unapologetically opposes forced-masking, mandatory vaccinations, and vaccine passports. This may only appeal to a minority of people, but those people are very motivated by this issue, and not that small in numbers. This is an issue that transcends traditional party lines..While vaccine hesitancy appears to be more predominant among conservative voters, it’s also well represented among traditional Green Party and other leftist supporters. With the collapse of the Green Party, the PPC provides the only place some can now place their vote against state-mandated medication..Middle-class “Pinterest moms” make up a large segment of the anti-vaccination movement as well. These folks are from a traditionally indifferent voting category and now they’ve been inspired to take part in the process. The PPC is harvesting brand new voters due to the pandemic and the heavy-handed response to it..Vaccination rates in Canada are tending to top out at about the 80% mark. Perhaps half of those who refuse vaccination are simply apathetic, but the other half is adamantly anti-vaccination and they want to stand up for themselves. Those truly opposed to vaccination are people who will not give up an inch on the issue. These people feel vaccines will harm them and their children and nothing is going to convince them to take part in that. While that may only make up perhaps 10% of the population, it’s an incredibly dedicated support base for a party. That makes up millions of people, many of whom are now door knocking, sign-waving, donating to and will be voting for the PPC..And for those who don’t know – but seem to care – I am double-vaccinated..The PPC is also cutting into traditional conservative support for the CPC. With every large spending promise and every flip-flop on conservative policies, Erin O’Toole may be gaining a few new Liberal voters, but he’s also shedding a number of supporters to the PPC. Firearms owners are mortified with O’Toole’s vow to keep Trudeau’s firearm ban legislation in contradiction with the CPC’s own platform. Energy workers and consumers are furious over O’Toole’s about-face on carbon taxes ,and libertarians are exhausted with O’Toole’s dedication to expanding the size and reach of government. Bernier’s PPC gives those disenchanted conservatives a place to land and they are incrementally making up a growing base for the PPC..While the PPC is drawing support from all sides of the political spectrum, it’s clear their growth threatens the CPC more than any other party. As O’Toole continues to pivot left in hopes of winning Central Canadian urban votes, more small-c conservatives and classical liberals move their support to the PPC. CPC support growth appears to have flatlined now and O’Toole may want to start to change tact. If he can’t gain new supporters or win back old ones, the CPC will find themselves in opposition yet again. They have done well, but haven’t gained the steam yet to win even a minority government by the numbers of today..The Tories are ignoring the appeal of the PPC at their peril..The new Maverick Party under the interim leadership of Jay Hill has been running a focused campaign in selected ridings, but they have been unable to catch momentum. They have simple missed the zeitgeist attracting disenfranchised Westerners: opposition to heavy-handed COVID restrictions and requirements, and a loathing of central authority in Ottawa..The PPC’s strong stance on decentralizing federal authority is attracting the support of regionalists and has deflated the Maverick a bit in this election. I suspect the Maverick may blossom one day, but not until if and when the Liberals are re-elected..Canada is going through an unprecedented challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters are irritable and unpredictable. Mistrust in the establishment, including its preferred political parties, is growing and the PPC has been capitalizing on this effectively. Momentum is everything in a campaign and right now, the PPC has it. With two weeks remaining in the campaign, the PPC could be well placed to surprise a lot of people on election night..Cory Morgan is the Alberta Political Columnist for the Western Standard and Host of the Cory Morgan Show
