The People’s Party of Canada will be able to run a candidate in this constituency in the 2019 federal election, after Elections Canada recognized the party as an official electoral district association.
Elections Canada formally recognized the Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan — People’s Party of Canada (MJLCL — PPC) Association on March 22, ending a five-month wait for approval, explained Lloyd Hackel, CEO/president of the MJLCL electoral district association.
Since the PPC is new, Elections Canada forced it to meet certain requirements before it was recognized as an official federal party. Once those requirements were met, it was up to the party to establish electoral district associations across the country.
The party has established 14 associations in Saskatchewan.
One requirement was to establish a membership organization in the constituency, Hackel said. That took a while since the Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan constituency is 32,000 square kilometres in size.
A second requirement was the establishment of an executive board. Board volunteers had to then get a police background check. All those details were sent to the PPC headquarters and then to Elections Canada.
“It becomes a waiting game until the executive gets approval,” said Hackel, who grew up in Moose Jaw. He moved away in 1969 to join the military, and then returned in 2007 to become a businessman. He ran for city council on more than one occasion.
“I think people are going to be surprised at what they hear from the People’s Party of Canada,” he said. “It is certainly focused on the people, not on big corporations, lobbyists or special interest groups.
“Our goal is to leave money in your pocket instead of picking it clean.”
Party leader Maxime Bernier’s principles of freedom, fairness, responsibility and respect represent many Canadian’s beliefs, Hackel said. He feels Bernier is genuine and thinks his message about doing politics differently resonates with Canadians.
“I was tired of seeing the same old, same old,” explained Hackel about why he joined the PPC. While the Liberals and Conservatives have different policies, he was impressed with how bold Bernier is in changing the discussion about federal politics.
“We all like to joke to some degree that the (federal) election is over by the time the polls close in Manitoba,” added Hackel.
One change the PPC wants to see is to the equalization formula, since the party believes the formula favours provinces in Eastern Canada over provinces in the West.
Some people with whom Hackel has spoken think the PPC will split the vote with the Conservatives. However, he doesn’t think that will happen. Instead, he believes voters are looking for something new that shows them respect and treats them fairly.
Hackel is concerned that the federal government pulls in billions of dollars from Canadians, only to use that money to fund projects overseas. He pointed out Canada builds roads in other countries, but lets infrastructure here crumble. Furthermore, the federal government supports the needs of others overseas, but can’t provide clean water for Aboriginal People.
Hackel thinks farmers in Saskatchewan have also suffered recently since the federal government is not interested in helping them. Whether it’s canola restrictions or railroad transportation issues, the feds have not shown much interest to help producers.
Three nominees have stepped forward to become the candidate for the PPC in this constituency. Hackel expects the selection process to occur in June after seeding has finished; he noted the party has much support from the farming community.
