People’s Party announces York-Simcoe candidate
Michael Lotter, who ran for the party in the 2019 election, will once again be the party candidate
NEWS RELEASE
PEOPLE’S PARTY OF CANADA
The People’s Party of Canada has announced its candidate for the riding of York-Simcoe. Michael Lotter, who ran in the 2019 Federal election, has again been chosen to represent the party in the next election.
Mr. Lotter has been a resident of Bradford West Gwillimbury since 2004. An immigrant to Canada in 1997, after completing a diploma in Public Relations at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Lotter settled in Bradford. Michael has worked in many fields since moving to Bradford, including buying and importing for large retail companies. He has most recently returned to school to pursue a new career in software engineering.
“When our government is asked a question and refuses to be upfront and honest with an answer, it is worrying. We should be able to trust our elected officials, and not be worried about what they are hiding by non-answers or being evasive. I believe it is not only up to the official opposition to hold the government of the day accountable, but for the people who vote to be given answers when they ask.”
The People’s Party of Canada had almost a full slate of candidates in the previous federal election, and hopes to achieve the same level of candidate coverage for the next federal election.
People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier says he won’t get a COVID-19 vaccine
As political parties prepare to hit the campaign trail for what could be a mid-pandemic election, all of the major political leaders have received their second doses — except one.
In a video posted to his Twitter account on Sunday, People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier said he won’t get a COVID-19 vaccine. He argued that he’s healthy and relatively young and would face a low risk of death if he became infected.
“I’m 58 years old. I believe I’m in good shape,” Bernier said in the video.
A spokesperson for the PPC pointed to data on the government’s website indicating that 993 people aged 50 to 59 have died from the virus, out of 185,552 in the same age group who have contracted the virus.
The spokesperson suggested that these numbers suggest Bernier faces a low risk of dying from the virus.
Health officials have long maintained that Canadians should take the first vaccines available to them to protect themselves and others, pointing out that vaccines can prevent further spread and forestall severe side effects in those who do contract the virus.
The Public Health Agency of Canada released data Friday that show fully vaccinated Canadians have accounted for less than one per cent of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations since December.
Dawn Bowdish, an immunologist and the Canada Research Chair in aging and immunity at McMaster University, said getting vaccinated can help keep the virus from spreading to vulnerable groups.
Even though vaccines offer good protection against the virus, Bowdish said people with compromised immune systems face severe side effects if they’re infected. She also said getting vaccinated can help protect children under 12 who are not yet eligible for a vaccine.
“We have a collective responsibility to get vaccinated and protect them,” she said in an email.
Maxime Bernier was taken into custody by RCMP in Manitoba for violating public health measures in June. (Laïssa Pamou/SRC)
In the past, Bernier has flouted COVID-19 health restrictions by attending a number of rallies protesting public health measures. He was arrested by Manitoba RCMP in June for violating public health orders.
Representatives of the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green Party all confirmed their leaders have been fully vaccinated.
Top health officials warn of 4th wave
Bernier’s statement comes following a warning from Canada’s top health officials that the country could be seeing the beginning of a fourth wave driven by the more infectious delta variant.
On Friday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said the seriousness of the pandemic’s resurgence will depend largely on vaccination coverage, especially as provinces move forward with reopening plans.
“I think we are in a slightly precarious period at the moment, in between these people trying to get the vaccines in and reopening,” Tam said.
“As soon as that balance is tipped, and it wouldn’t take very much with a highly transmissible virus, you’re going to see an uptick in cases.”
Of the entire population eligible to receive a vaccine, 81 per cent have received one dose and 66 per cent are fully vaccinated.
People’s Party of Canada leader tours northeastern Ontario
TIMMINS – Kicking off his ‘Mad Max Northeastern Ontario’ tour in Iroquois Falls, People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier addressed northerners Friday, calling for an end to COVID-19 lockdowns, political correctness and what he said are ineffective Liberal policies.
“I will give you more of your freedom and the People’s Party of Canada, we have faith in people” Bernier said. “We have faith that you have the ability, the dignity and the right to make your own decisions.”
Bernier told attendees he wants financial aid to other countries to stop, the Liberal carbon tax abolished and he said fossil fuel pipelines are crucial for the country.
He also expressed his belief in freedom of speech, including allowing the opinions of fringe political parties like his to be heard in mainstream media and represented in Parliament.
That notion had the support of many attendees of his northern rallies so far.
“I think maybe Maxime will be a change for the better,” said Monique Gervais, who came out to Bernier’s rally in Iroquois Falls.
“I agree wholeheartedly with what he has to say – he speaks for me.”
The controversial PPC party touts the traction it gained during the 2016 federal election, accumulating more than one per cent of the total vote.
Bernier doesn’t expect to become prime minister in the next election – he’s anticipating one in the fall – but he is hoping to snag a few seats in Parliament.
So far, no PPC candidates have been announced in the northeast, but Bernier said several people have expressed interest in running for the party.