People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier became the first federal leader to visit Moose Jaw during this federal election. 

Bernier was at the Mae Wilson Theatre on Thursday to hold a rally for his supporters and throw is support behind Moose Jaw – Lake Centre – Lanigan candidate Chey Craik. 

Bernier said his party is about freedom. In particular, he took aim at the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine passports that are being implemented. 

“We are under attack by the Liberals, by the Conservatives, who promote the COVID hysteria and impose lockdowns and now a vaccine passport on us,” Bernier told the crowd. 

He said the PPC believes that people have the freedom to choose if they want to get vaccinated or not. 

According to Bernier, although vaccine passports aren’t widespread in Saskatchewan yet, they will be coming. 

“Now we are living in a society in Quebec and that will be the same in Ontario and that will come here, everywhere across the country, because Justin Trudeau said that he would give $1 billion to provinces to be sure they will implement the vaccine passport,” Bernier said. 

Bernier also took the time to take shots at the Liberal, Conservative and Maverick parties. 

He said Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole is starting to sound a lot like Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau when it comes to balancing the budget. 

“O'Toole said that he will balance the budget in 10 years. But we know that it is asking you, the voters, to give him a four-year mandate and he will balance the budget in 10 years and he said yesterday he will do that without cuts,” Bernier said.  

“I can tell you that he is saying the same thing that Justin Trudeau said a couple of years ago, that the budget will balance itself.” 

Bernier’s plan is to balance the budget in four years with cuts. 

“You will have to cut the CBC $1.2 billion, you will have to cut foreign aid because we want to save $5 billion, and actually, we are working for Canadians and we are putting our country first, not the UN, not the World Health Organization. So yes we are the only party that is against globalism,” he said. 

He also said O’Toole will not stand up for Western Canadians when it comes to equalization payments with other provinces. 

“He won't tell you that that formula must change and be less generous to give the right incentives to other provinces to divvy put their own natural resources. He won't tell you that and Justin Trudeau won't do anything.” 

As for the Maverick Party, he said the Western Canadian separatist party is not to be taken seriously. Bernier said there are 100 seats in Western Canada, yet they are only running 30 candidates. 

“Why? Because it is working with the Conservative Party of Canada. He is the puppet of the Conservative Party of Canada. He doesn't want to hurt the Conservatives. That's why he decided to only have 30 candidates here in Western Canada,” Bernier said. 

He added that the PPC platform will give provinces more autonomy, and if you are thinking about separation it has to start at the provincial level, like the Parti Quebecois in Quebec. 

When it comes to voters that are afraid that there will be a splitting of the vote, Bernier said not to believe it. 

“The people that are saying that it is because they don't want a Liberal to be elected in Saskatchewan. But do you really believe Trudeau will be able to have a Liberal elected here? I don't believe so,” Bernier said. 

While Bernier was making is speech inside the Mae Wilson Theatre, there was a group of protesters protesting his appearance and his controversial views.