2 weeks Ago By By Connor McDowellLocal Journalism Initiative
The People’s Party of Canada candidate for Riding Mountain says he represents Canadians who crave real conservative values in politics at the federal level and who feel abandoned by the current system. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! To continue reading, please subscribe: *$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $4.99 a X percent off the regular rate.
The People’s Party of Canada candidate for Riding Mountain says he represents Canadians who crave real conservative values in politics at the federal level and who feel abandoned by the current system. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The People’s Party of Canada candidate for Riding Mountain says he represents Canadians who crave real conservative values in politics at the federal level and who feel abandoned by the current system. Jim Oliver told the Sun that his party fills a gap in today’s Canadian political landscape.
Issues like immigration and gender have been left without conservative representation for many years, he said, with PPC Leader Maxime Bernier standing alone in opposition to current political trends. “Right now, basically, we have a three-way split for the left-leaning vote,” Oliver said in a recent phone interview. “That’s what we’re dealing with.
And if there are true conservatives out there, people who really have conservative instincts and beliefs ...
the platform of the PPC party more or less addresses (these things).” Oliver said the PPC platform pushes back on several concepts that have been left untouched by the major political parties in Canada for years. He pointed out that the Liberals in late 2024 admitted there were flaws in its immigration system under then-prime minister Justin Trudeau and reduced the number of people welcomed to Canada.
He said this decision appeared to come as a result of political calculations based on shifting public opinion rather than the kind of sensible policy and governance that the PPC offers. “Maxime’s platform doesn’t necessarily target, you know, the voter strategy,” Oliver said. “It’s just about being honest and about being sensible.
So the bottom line is, ‘What’s good for the country?’ and so sometimes that’s not popular.” The PPC website says the party’s platform includes such policies as putting a temporary pause on immigration, abolishing federal programs for diversity, equity and inclusion in institutions like the Canadian Armed Forces, and banning the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children. Oliver said some of these issues are innately conservative — however, Canada’s nominal Conservative party shies away from them.
“Max is coming from a standpoint of what makes sense, and Pierre (Poilievre) is coming from a standpoint of what’s popular at the moment,” said Oliver. “Immigration all of the sudden is a hot topic ..
. The other parties are talking about it now, but if you go back, you can see that Maxime has been talking about it for a long time ..
. Immigration, radical gender ideology — again, the Conservatives are not pushing back on that.” The federal Conservatives, he said, have become a centre — or even left-of-centre — party while the PPC is now taking on the role of representing Canadians with politically conservative viewpoints.
Many supporters who came to the PPC in its infancy were former Conservative voters who felt disenchanted with the party, Oliver said. He noted the PPC rose from 1.6 per cent of the vote in the 2019 election to 4.
9 per cent in 2021, when the Tories were led by Erin O’Toole, who was later ousted by a majority of Conservative MPs. Oliver said the PPC has recently seen defections from the NDP and is hoping to attract Canadians who don’t see the point in voting. “Another group that the PPC would appeal to are people that are disenchanted with the political system,” he said.
“They feel like little effect will be the result of their vote because they’re choosing from these entrenched, established parties that all seem to be different sides of the same coin.” Oliver lives near Riding Mountain National Park on a homestead, where he farms poultry, cattle and swine. He owned and operated an automotive parts store for 12 years near Winnipeg and moved to Westman in 2021, where he now homeschools his young children and looks after the animals.
The PPC recently named Oliver as the candidate for Riding Mountain. Earlier, he had been posted as the candidate for the Brandon-Souris riding. There is currently no PPC candidate named for Brandon-Souris on the party’s website.
Also running in Riding Mountain are incumbent Conservative MP Dan Mazier, Liberal candidate Terry Hayward and Green party candidate Liz Clayton. » [email protected] Advertisement Advertisement.
