The Bernier headache is just beginning
In quitting the Conservative Party, Maxime Bernier has relieved party leader Andrew Scheer of one problem, while creating other, much bigger ones.
The former Conservative cabinet minister announced on Thursday that he is leaving the party to start one of his own. The decision follows a week of controversy, ignited by a series of tweets from the rogue MP on the subject of immigration. In them, he decried the federal Liberal’s “cult of diversity” and suggested too many newcomers would create “little tribes” that would, in turn, cause division across the country and erode Canada’s identity.
While some felt the Quebec MP’s remarks were spot on, others inside his party considered them intolerant at best and, at worse, borderline racist. Unquestionably, they were unhelpful and intentionally provocative, and not something a contented MP would do, knowing the sensation they would cause and the uncomfortable position in which they would put Mr. Scheer. Likely, that was the whole point. Mr. Bernier probably knew he would soon be leaving.
The reality is, Mr. Bernier never ever accepted Mr. Scheer’s razor-thin victory over him in last year’s leadership vote, one in which the ballots were immediately destroyed, denying anyone the chance of reviewing them for irregularities. There is also the fact that for all Mr. Scheer’s good points – including an amiable, open disposition that is the exact opposite of his predecessor, Stephen Harper – he does not enjoy unfettered loyalty. He certainly never received it from Mr. Bernier.
As expected, most Conservative MPs closed ranks behind their leader, denouncing the move of their colleague as selfish and predictably unpredictable. But know there are others who are going to miss him, not simply for his quirky, charismatic personality, but also for the influence he holds inside his province. And no matter how you spin it, this is not good news for the Conservatives.
This is the first true crisis of Mr. Scheer’s leadership and how he handles it will be revealing. The hope inside Tory circles is that it will toughen him up, help gird him for what’s expected to be a nasty campaign against a formidable, battle-tested foe in Justin Trudeau. What Mr. Bernier has done is give Mr. Scheer a very public shove. Now, people are waiting to see the manner in which Mr. Scheer shoves back.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/article-the-bernier-headache-is-just-beginning/
It splits the vote you dope.