Maxime Bernier speaks at the Economic Club of Canada, June 8, 2010.Photograph by: Brett Gundlock, National PostConservative MP Maxime Bernier sure knows how to make headlines.
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By Gerry Nicholls, Ottawa February 10, 2011 - Recently this former cabinet minister caused a national furore when he questioned the wisdom of Quebec’s controversial anti-English laws. Bernier argued the notorious Bill 101 language law was not needed; the Quebec government, he said, didn’t have to infringe on individual freedom to protect its culture and language.
Many Canadians, both inside and outside Quebec, likely agreed with Bernier’s frank assessment. Yet for the Ottawa political and media establishment his comments amounted to heresy; it’s just not proper to stand up for principles and freedom when it comes to Quebec’s peculiar language regulations.
Hence Bernier was roundly denounced from all sides.
At the same time, however, many observers are also wondering why Prime Minister Stephen Harper is allowing his maverick MP to speak out on these kinds of controversial issues. It’s a good question.
After all, as is well documented, the prime minister likes to impose a savage message discipline on his caucus. Any Conservative MP who strays from the party’s officially approved talking points can expect a world of hurt from a vengeful Prime Minister’s Office.
Yet Bernier, or “Mad Max” as his media critics like to dub him, has for the last year or so been travelling across the country freely speaking his mind, articulating views no other Conservative MP has dared utter.
It’s not that Bernier is saying anything all that radical, at least from a conservative perspective.
He is simply making the case that government in Canada is too big and too intrusive and that we need to do a better job when it comes to cutting spending, cutting the deficit and cutting taxes. In other words, Bernier is sounding an awful lot like conservative icons Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
And come to think of it, Bernier is also sounding an awful lot like Stephen Harper, or at least like the Stephen Harper of 10 years ago.
Back in those days, Harper too was something of a conservative “rogue.” He openly and freely criticized conservative leaders who were not, in his opinion, acting like “true conservatives.”
And he was a strident and outspoken champion of libertarian ideals, including the notions of minimal government, lower taxes and individual liberty.
In fact, while president of the conservative group the National Citizens Coalition, Harper was an adamant opponent of Quebec’s language laws, which he considered draconian.
Under his direction, the NCC even helped to fund legal challenges to Bill 101’s constitutionality.
So given this history, it’s no wonder that one theory making the rounds is that Harper has allowed Bernier to slip his leash because he secretly agrees with his MP’s views.
Another theory is that Harper is allowing Bernier the freedom to speak out as a way of mollifying that part of his conservative base that’s disappointed with his government’s “Liberal-lite” agenda.
Indeed, one Conservative operative told the media, Bernier’s comments were “useful in inspiring the base.”
Of course, in politics the simplest explanation is usually the one that’s closest to the truth. And the simplest explanation in this case isn’t that Harper is allowing Bernier to speak out, it’s that he can’t stop Bernier from speaking out.
Bernier is simply that rare politician who has the courage to stand up for his convictions, even if that means permanently residing in Harper’s doghouse.
And that’s a refreshing change for those of us fed up with the juvenile partisan sniping that passes for political debate in this country.
In fact, if anything Canada needs more politicians like Bernier. We need leaders who will talk about ideas, who will put forward a vision and who will trigger debate on important issues.
That’s why I hope Bernier continues to speak his mind.
The Ottawa establishment might not appreciate his boldness or his ideas, but there are a lot of Canadians who do.
Gerry Nicholls is a political consultant and former vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition (gerrynicholls.com).