Federal People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier was in Lac La Biche on Monday afternoon, speaking to a crowd of about 100 supporters during a campaign stop supporting PPC candidate for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake Shawn McDonald.
Bernier — who said he embraces the nickname "Mad Max" because he is angry with the existing government's continuing attack on freedoms — and McDonald made stops in Cold Lake, Lac La Biche and Fort McMurray in the whirlwind, day-long tour.
Local connections
The Lac La Biche stop for Bernier was in the parking lot of the Triumphant Center church, which ironically, for "Mad Max'd" visit, backs onto the hillside recreation area many local youngsters call "the Thunderdome". Another coincidence is that Bernier said many of the blueprint foundations of the PPC party are based on the former Reform Party. He was pleased to learn that the Reform Party's first federal MP, Deborah Grey, was elected to represent the Lac La Biche (Beaver River) area in 1989. Grey was joined by 51 Reform Party MPs following the 1993 federal election.
Bernier told Lakelandtoday.ca it was his first time in the Lac La Biche area and he was impressed by the community and the show of support for the fledgling party with a mandate towards freedoms.
A full interview with Bernier from the local visit will follow shortly.
