Juno News - March 03, 2022


Candice Bergen on carbon tax, vaccine mandates, and Trudeau's NDP ＂lap dogs＂


Episode Stats

Length

17 minutes

Words per Minute

173.64209

Word Count

2,972

Sentence Count

159

Hate Speech Sentences

3


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Welcome back to the Andrew Lawton Show here on True North.
00:00:12.140 As I mentioned earlier, very pleased to have joining us Candace Bergen,
00:00:16.580 who is the interim leader of the Conservatives.
00:00:19.060 Now, if you haven't been paying attention to Canadian politics in the last couple of months,
00:00:23.040 you'll know this came about somewhat abruptly as Aaron O'Toole was removed
00:00:27.740 by his caucus members in the midst of the trucker convoy.
00:00:32.100 And again, I think there were a number of factors there,
00:00:34.260 but certainly that was one of the leading ones here.
00:00:37.460 Candace, good to talk to you again. Thanks very much.
00:00:39.280 And it's been a little while, so congratulations.
00:00:41.560 I've not spoken to you since you've ascended to this position, but thank you.
00:00:46.060 Thanks, Andrew. Yeah, it's been, I kind of joke,
00:00:49.200 wow, it's been a pretty quiet month here in Ottawa.
00:00:53.100 Sarcastic, not at all quiet, very busy, a lot going on.
00:00:56.300 But it's been productive and there's a lot of good work that I think we've been able to do.
00:01:02.780 Let's actually start right there.
00:01:04.500 This was an abrupt job title change for you.
00:01:07.920 Obviously, the Conservative Party went through this change with Aaron O'Toole being removed
00:01:13.080 and then you being selected as the interim leader very quickly.
00:01:17.600 What has this been for you really practically?
00:01:20.720 Because you've come into this position in the midst of the convoy.
00:01:24.400 We now have the Russia war in Ukraine.
00:01:27.640 We have a number of political challenges in Canada,
00:01:30.180 plus the Conservative Party is obviously going through changes.
00:01:33.060 You had to hit the ground running.
00:01:34.500 What's been the priority for you?
00:01:35.840 Well, I'm fortunate because of the roles that I've had previously under with Ronna Ambrose,
00:01:43.340 Andrew Scheer, and then with Aaron O'Toole as House Leader and then going on as Deputy Leader,
00:01:48.620 I really have a good idea of what the leadership role is.
00:01:53.980 And so I was literally able to hit the ground running.
00:01:57.000 The Wednesday when everything happened, it was a very quick day.
00:01:59.960 We had a question period right after our caucus meeting and then we had the vote for the interim leader
00:02:06.260 and the next day Parliament was on.
00:02:08.680 And you're right, we had the convoy out here in Ottawa and issues that we had to address right away.
00:02:14.160 The caucus really has come together.
00:02:16.260 It was a very much hands-on, all hands-on-deck kind of mentality
00:02:21.060 and everybody rallied around and we were able to tackle some of the difficult issues.
00:02:26.760 So that's really what we've been doing.
00:02:28.800 In terms of my priorities, Andrew, I'll tell you, I believe first and foremost my job is to keep our caucus united.
00:02:37.860 And when I say united, that doesn't mean that we always agree on everything.
00:02:41.460 I think that it's a myth to think that we can always agree or all be on exactly the same page on every issue.
00:02:48.880 I think, in fact, that's kind of the liberal way of doing things.
00:02:52.540 They think everybody has to agree or somehow it doesn't work.
00:02:55.740 As Conservatives, we're going to disagree and we're going to have different opinions, and I think that makes us better.
00:03:02.040 But as a caucus, we can talk about it, come to certain positions, and then be disciplined and focused in what we're doing for Canadians.
00:03:10.780 So that's really been my goal, and then also ensure that Conservatives are proud to be Conservative.
00:03:17.400 I think that we have a lot to be proud of as Conservatives, our values, our principles, the foundation that makes us Conservative.
00:03:25.880 So I want Conservatives to be proud to be Conservatives and excited about what we're doing.
00:03:30.500 Clearly, that approach to caucus management that you just described didn't exist.
00:03:35.740 Caucus members felt under Aaron O'Toole's leadership, which is why there was enough discontent that he was removed under the Reform Act.
00:03:42.580 So how do you, moving forward from that, correct that?
00:03:46.140 How do you keep the caucus together, the different factions of the party, and also the membership and the base beyond the caucus across the country?
00:03:53.500 Well, I was also fortunate to work under Stephen Harper in his government and in his cabinet, and I found Stephen Harper, although a very strong leader, and he knew the direction he wanted to go.
00:04:04.620 He really set an example for how to collaborate and work with the caucus, and that was as a prime minister.
00:04:10.680 Ronna Ambrose continued that, and other leaders have done that, and I find that that's the best way to approach issues, whether it's legislation the government is bringing forward,
00:04:21.320 whether it's issues that we as a caucus have to deal with.
00:04:24.780 We have a very intelligent, principled, hard-working group of men and women here in Ottawa who are Conservative MPs,
00:04:32.620 and I just find it's the best approach is to consult with them.
00:04:37.140 So we have a good process whereby we do that through our shadow cabinet process.
00:04:41.100 We have priorities of the planning committee, and then caucus meets regularly.
00:04:45.040 And I ask them what they think, and I take their advice and tell them what I'm thinking,
00:04:51.300 and then I find that whether I was House leader or deputy leader or now as leader,
00:04:56.220 that is the best approach to finding consensus and moving forward.
00:05:00.400 You mentioned earlier the convoy.
00:05:02.920 This is, of course, a huge issue that I think, not just for Canada and for Ottawa,
00:05:07.840 but for the Conservative movement in this country.
00:05:09.840 You had, I think, the Conservative base that has been for the last year certainly very fervently against the vaccine mandates,
00:05:17.200 the vaccine passports, not feeling like there was a voice in the official opposition on those issues.
00:05:23.380 You've had a clear voice on this.
00:05:25.180 You've spoken up.
00:05:26.080 I even played on my show yesterday your exchange with the Prime Minister in the House of Commons
00:05:30.480 from question period yesterday about that very idea.
00:05:33.940 But how do you take that and, as the interim leader, make sure that those people continue to be heard?
00:05:40.300 Because what I've been hearing for the last two years, especially since the last election and through the last election,
00:05:46.160 was that Conservatives in Canada, and I use that with a small C and a big C,
00:05:50.260 did not feel like their interests were being represented by the Conservative Party of Canada.
00:05:55.900 Well, you know, I know I'm from one of the strongest Conservative ridings in the country,
00:06:01.040 Southern Manitoba, and I talked to so many people, first of all, explaining the difference between
00:06:07.040 provincial vaccine mandates and federal vaccine mandates and the fact that as a federal representative,
00:06:13.300 I had no impact or power over what provinces did.
00:06:16.580 But as a federal MP, I could sure stand up against Trudeau's federal mandatory vaccines.
00:06:23.520 And I think we were all clear.
00:06:25.100 I believe Conservatives were all clear on that during the election.
00:06:27.960 Some would say we could have been gone out on it more.
00:06:31.580 That's the past.
00:06:33.140 What I do know is when Trudeau threatened and then implemented the vaccine on truck,
00:06:38.060 the vaccine mandate on truckers, that very much went against Conservative policy.
00:06:42.720 And so we could very strongly support the spirit of what the truckers and their supporters
00:06:48.880 were coming to Ottawa to talk about.
00:06:51.660 And that's why we could meet with them.
00:06:54.040 I met with constituents who were here.
00:06:56.240 I believe that's what government and opposition leaders should do.
00:06:59.860 We should listen to people.
00:07:01.180 We should hear them.
00:07:02.380 I think if Trudeau had done a little more of that, instead of calling them names and wedging,
00:07:08.080 dividing and stigmatizing, we would not have gotten into the situation that we were in
00:07:13.760 with the truckers here for as long as they were.
00:07:16.500 We also did believe, and we do believe, that we need to be following the laws of the land.
00:07:22.440 And that was why we said to the truckers and their supporters, don't blockade borders.
00:07:28.980 It's too important to Canada's economy.
00:07:31.500 And move the trucks because you can't be parked illegally.
00:07:34.520 And I believe you can say both things.
00:07:36.640 We support your fight against mandatory vaccines, but we don't believe you should be doing things illegally.
00:07:43.020 That was our position.
00:07:45.140 And so now as we're moving forward, and I asked the Prime Minister about this recently,
00:07:50.760 provinces are opening up.
00:07:52.500 Vaccines or mandates are being lifted.
00:07:55.700 Where's the federal government on this?
00:07:57.440 They frankly are so behind.
00:08:00.140 And, you know, I said kind of tongue-in-cheek, but it's actually true.
00:08:03.320 They always say they're so progressive and, you know, ahead of the times.
00:08:06.500 They're actually looking very old-fashioned right now in their approach to vaccine mandates.
00:08:12.460 So we've got to keep pushing them on this.
00:08:14.780 It's not just about freedom.
00:08:16.320 It's actually about what's good for our economy.
00:08:18.840 It's about what's good for Canadians' mental health.
00:08:21.620 It's Canadians need to be free to live their lives.
00:08:25.000 And the mandates and the restrictions have to be lifted federally.
00:08:28.580 I'm appreciative that you don't want to spend too much time looking into the past here,
00:08:33.660 but I do want to talk about one contrast between the Conservative Party of a few months ago
00:08:38.500 and a position that we've heard from you and also your colleagues in caucus in the last couple of weeks,
00:08:43.900 and that's a very firm position against the carbon tax.
00:08:46.380 And I know with everything else that's been going on in Canada and the world,
00:08:50.340 this hasn't necessarily been the top-of-mind issue on the political agenda,
00:08:53.920 but for Canadians that are paying their heating bills, it certainly is an issue.
00:08:58.040 And again, talk to me a little bit about where the Conservatives are on this,
00:09:01.580 because I think even a year and a bit ago,
00:09:04.460 Conservative Canadians were fairly confident that your party was against the carbon tax,
00:09:10.060 that then it ran on a version of a carbon price that people have said,
00:09:14.960 the Canadian Taxpayers Federation have said, was a carbon tax.
00:09:18.300 So where is the party now? Where are you now on this?
00:09:21.740 Well, Andrew, I think you are right in that there are a lot of things that Canadians are watching on the news
00:09:27.200 and very concerned about, but they're still going up and filling up their tanks
00:09:30.960 and buying groceries and seeing that the cost of everything is going up
00:09:35.760 and it's starting at the pumps.
00:09:37.220 So Conservatives are very concerned with inflation and increased taxes on Canadians.
00:09:43.960 Listen, my position is this.
00:09:45.940 We have a leadership race going on right now.
00:09:48.800 Leadership candidates will articulate their belief on how we best fight
00:09:53.200 reducing emissions and fighting climate change
00:09:57.000 and what role Canada can play in that.
00:10:00.380 They can talk about their ideas and the electorate,
00:10:03.920 the membership will support their ideas or not.
00:10:06.420 So I'm going back just to the basics of what our grassroots party has determined.
00:10:13.000 And Conservatives don't support tax increases.
00:10:15.800 We certainly don't support a Liberal carbon tax
00:10:18.200 that does absolutely nothing to reduce emissions anywhere
00:10:21.740 and only hurts Canadian energy, oil, gas and Canadian consumers.
00:10:28.000 And I think right now when we see what's going on with Putin
00:10:30.760 and the fact that Putin has been able to monopolize the sale of gas to Europe, for example,
00:10:39.460 Canada is cut out of the equation.
00:10:42.040 So we're not only talking about how that hurts the environment,
00:10:45.260 but just as importantly, and I would say more importantly right now,
00:10:49.440 the safety, sovereignty and energy security of the world.
00:10:53.780 When Canada is cut out, whether it's through a carbon tax or other measures
00:10:58.520 that the Liberal government has put on our sector, it hurts the world.
00:11:03.500 So, you know, that's a big answer.
00:11:06.320 But basically to say on policies like this, I'm in a safe place
00:11:11.220 when I stick with our grassroots policy and then let the candidates articulate
00:11:15.680 their particular views on these kinds of issues.
00:11:19.180 Yeah, I'm glad you brought up the Russia approach
00:11:21.660 because I know that the Prime Minister did come out this week
00:11:24.400 and say that we're going to cancel imports of crude from Russia.
00:11:28.900 But I would say, first off, it shouldn't have taken an invasion of Ukraine
00:11:33.880 to start talking about reducing our dependency on foreign oil,
00:11:37.420 especially when we have the capability and capacity in Canada
00:11:41.240 and an energy sector here.
00:11:43.020 And the same could be said about US leaders.
00:11:45.120 I know obviously Canadian politicians don't have as direct control
00:11:49.080 over what the United States does, but we can represent Canada's interests.
00:11:53.020 And in Canada, I still am baffled,
00:11:55.060 and especially when I talk to Albertans and people from Saskatchewan about this,
00:11:58.960 baffled at how dependent we are on foreign oil
00:12:01.460 from countries that are not democracies
00:12:03.440 when we could develop our sector so much more than it is right now.
00:12:07.420 I agree, Andrew.
00:12:09.140 And, you know, it's not only our dependency or even that we're still using it,
00:12:14.280 it's the fact that we have no champions in our country.
00:12:17.880 We should have a Prime Minister who goes to other countries and says,
00:12:22.820 do not ever lecture us about oil and gas or emissions
00:12:27.440 because Canada is the leader when it comes to extracting
00:12:31.880 and transporting the cleanest oil, gas, and LNG in the world.
00:12:37.560 But we don't have that champion.
00:12:39.400 And so we allow the world to scold and really reprimand us,
00:12:45.160 even in the way that they, where there's investment, insurance,
00:12:49.020 all kinds of other measures that they're using to try to constrain
00:12:54.260 Canada's oil and gas development.
00:12:56.820 And if we had a leader who would say, no, enough of that, that's nonsense,
00:13:01.120 and actually point out the big polluters in the world,
00:13:05.120 and then ensure that our oil and gas is promoted and used.
00:13:09.400 So that's only, it's just one piece of it, but it's, I'm glad that we're at least
00:13:15.500 able to talk about it a little more right now.
00:13:18.360 And I think more and more people are seeing that when Canadian oil and gas
00:13:22.600 is kept in the ground and Putin is able to sell his, you know, look at what he's doing.
00:13:28.420 Look at the, look at the billions of dollars he has,
00:13:30.940 he has, and he's using it right now to kill and destroy Ukrainian people
00:13:36.320 and a sovereign democratic nation.
00:13:38.500 And that's a hard fact to face up to, but it's, it's the truth.
00:13:43.600 Just looking forward to some of the other items on the political agenda here in Canada,
00:13:48.940 the Emergencies Act, very controversial.
00:13:51.880 We know just looking at it in practice in Ottawa, that civil liberties were affected,
00:13:56.940 press freedoms were affected, peaceful assembly was affected.
00:14:00.820 And obviously the parliamentary oversight of this tended to just disappear when,
00:14:05.660 just as the Senate was weighing this, Justin Trudeau decided that the emergency no longer existed.
00:14:11.100 I know the Emergencies Act does require a report, an investigation of this after the fact,
00:14:17.820 but, but realistically, does Justin Trudeau get away with this now by declaring the emergency over?
00:14:23.400 Is there still some accountability there?
00:14:26.560 Well, we, we believe that there absolutely should be.
00:14:29.860 We, we did not support the use of the Emergencies Act.
00:14:33.260 We, you know, we looked at it and, and found out very quickly that all of the laws were in place that needed to be.
00:14:38.360 He had, and law enforcement had the laws that they needed to clear,
00:14:42.860 especially we're talking about the trucks.
00:14:44.300 I mean, they obviously did it, they did it before the Emergencies Act,
00:14:47.020 they cleared away the blockades at borders,
00:14:49.240 but they had what they needed to clear the, the trucks from Ottawa.
00:14:53.580 Trudeau was in a political emergency, and so he invoked the Emergencies Act.
00:14:57.640 In terms of oversight, we're in Ottawa this week.
00:15:01.060 We then have a two-week previously scheduled riding break where we're in our ridings.
00:15:06.360 But I'm going to tell you this, Andrew, Conservatives are not finished talking about this and holding the Prime Minister to account.
00:15:14.580 He's trying to, Jerry, really, I guess the word would be,
00:15:18.580 he's trying to manipulate the committee to make sure that he's got enough,
00:15:22.980 the NDP, who are basically his lapdogs on this.
00:15:26.240 They're probably going to be helping, helping chair the committee,
00:15:29.640 but we're going to use every tool available,
00:15:31.980 and we will not let the Prime Minister get away with doing this.
00:15:36.160 But I will say this, Andrew, we cannot do it alone.
00:15:40.120 We need people who are talking about this, holding their MPs to account.
00:15:45.320 If you have a Liberal or an NDP MP representing you,
00:15:48.860 you need to tell them that what they did wasn't acceptable.
00:15:52.440 Politicians cannot do it by themselves.
00:15:54.780 We need people speaking out loudly, clearly, and forcefully about this.
00:15:59.500 Obviously, in a democratic country, doing it legally, safely,
00:16:03.960 but we need people speaking out about it.
00:16:05.740 And we'll keep doing our job here in Ottawa.
00:16:08.540 I know there's lots more coming up in the next few weeks and months.
00:16:12.540 The revival of Bill C-36, of Bill C-10.
00:16:16.280 So we'd love to get you back on the show to talk about some of those.
00:16:18.920 I know they are very significant for free speech,
00:16:21.980 and I've appreciated conversations I've had in the past with you about that.
00:16:25.300 So we'll have you back on.
00:16:26.940 Candice Bergen, Interim Leader of the Conservatives,
00:16:29.220 thanks so much for your time today.
00:16:31.440 Thanks, Andrew.
00:16:32.260 Thanks for listening to The Andrew Lawton Show.
00:16:34.460 Support the program by donating to True North at www.tnc.nons.
00:16:39.640 Tell us.
00:16:49.340 I'll see you next week.
00:16:49.920 For Mexico is the district's first and second- incurred.
00:16:51.260 Let's see you next week.
00:16:51.920 text search organizations,
00:16:52.960 to the military base.
00:16:53.720 With it at the state,
00:16:56.440 we're conducting a formalized cliffs with us
00:16:58.580 about recreation because of the program and education.
00:17:00.400 And I'll see you next week.
00:17:02.100 Let's see you next week.
00:17:04.240 Steve sc