Juno News - Conservative Leadership Series： Rudy Husny

00:00:00.000 The Andrew Lawton Show starts right now.

00:00:08.200 Welcome to another edition of The Andrew Lawton Show here on True North,

00:00:12.320 continuing our Conservative Leadership Series,

00:00:15.440 sitting down one-on-one, in-depth, wide-ranging interviews

00:00:18.720 with all of the candidates seeking the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.

00:00:22.340 Very pleased to be joined right now with Rudy Husney,

00:00:25.760 former Conservative staffer, former candidate,

00:00:27.880 and ultimately someone who's promising a bold vision,

00:00:31.520 not like what we've seen to date in Canadian politics.

00:00:34.740 Rudy, it's great to talk to you. Thanks for coming down today.

00:00:37.040 Thank you for having me.

00:00:38.140 So let's talk a little bit about why you're running,

00:00:40.420 because you're not someone that's coming from the roster of usual suspects, so to speak.

00:00:45.200 Why are you deciding that you're the guy to take over the Conservative Party?

00:00:49.160 Look, I've been involved with the Conservative Party for more than 12 years.

00:00:52.600 I started, you know, on the side of my normal job, volunteering.

00:00:56.460 I started on the 2008 campaign.

00:00:59.740 I loved it so much that after I participated to my first convention in 2009,

00:01:05.320 and all of a sudden I realized that in Montreal, in Quebec,

00:01:09.380 we needed to have strong Conservative candidates

00:01:11.980 to make sure that people understand what's our message, what's our vision.

00:01:16.240 So I decided to run in 2011, as you mentioned,

00:01:19.600 and I decided that I wanted to make sure that we send a strong message.

00:01:24.140 And at that time, Thomas Mocaire was obviously the person in Quebec

00:01:29.660 that was getting a lot of attention, so I decided to run against him.

00:01:33.340 Not only because I wanted to be able to debate him, both in French and in English,

00:01:37.340 but I wanted to make sure that we started this work of making sure Quebecers pay attention

00:01:43.300 to what we're saying.

00:01:45.160 So I did that.

00:01:46.500 After that, as you said, and you mentioned, I was a staffer.

00:01:50.080 Yes, I went to Ottawa.

00:01:51.860 I was entrusted with an amazing portfolio, which was international trade.

00:01:56.420 I worked on the administer at Fastware.

00:01:58.680 We actually had a vision.

00:02:00.080 I like that because we said we were going to open markets all around the world.

00:02:04.580 We went on an incredible journey in terms of Canada-EU trade agreement,

00:02:10.840 Canada-first trade agreement with Asia, South Korea.

00:02:13.920 It was the beginning of the TPP.

00:02:16.440 And I decided after, obviously, we lost.

00:02:19.380 I went back to the private sector.

00:02:22.000 Andrew Scheer's team called me back, saying,

00:02:24.040 Rudy, come back.

00:02:24.920 And to be honest, I didn't want to shoot comment from like 12,000 kilometers.

00:02:28.840 I was actually in Oman, in Dubai, back in the private sector at that time.

00:02:32.760 And I said, I'm going to come back.

00:02:34.180 Ken, look, I don't want us to replay the 2015 or the 2019 campaign.

00:02:39.900 I have been inside.

00:02:41.120 I've been an insider, yes.

00:02:42.540 I've been a candidate twice.

00:02:44.500 I've been somebody advising ministers, prime minister,

00:02:48.140 and a leader of the official opposition.

00:02:50.480 I just don't believe that our message and our vision is in the right space

00:02:57.720 and that we are positive enough towards Canadians.

00:03:00.660 I do believe that sometimes, Andrew, we are talking too much to our base.

00:03:06.080 Yes, we are tough on crime.

00:03:08.280 Yes, we want lower taxes.

00:03:10.960 Yes, we want smaller government.

00:03:12.340 We all agree on that.

00:03:13.720 But this is not enough for Canadians to get behind us

00:03:17.780 and that we can win seats all over the country and form a government.

00:03:21.600 So I want to bring a positive conservative vision to this race

00:03:26.280 because I just believe that our traditional message,

00:03:29.480 and to be frankly honest, our playbook, is not going to work anymore.

00:03:33.780 It worked in 2011 and we're able to get a majority,

00:03:37.220 but the results of 2015 and the results of 2019

00:03:40.720 clearly show that we need to change our playbook.

00:03:43.840 You mentioned running against Thomas Mulcair

00:03:46.640 more to make a statement about conservatives in Quebec.

00:03:49.640 You are the only leadership candidate in Quebec right now.

00:03:53.280 You're the only native French speaker.

00:03:55.380 I think that some of the other candidates who say they speak French

00:03:58.180 will probably be tested in some way as the campaign rolls on.

00:04:01.820 But are you running now to win or are you running to make a statement

00:04:06.020 that you can be a conservative in Quebec?

00:04:08.620 I'm fully committed.

00:04:09.920 I decided to run for a lot of different reasons.

00:04:15.720 First of all, I wanted to make sure that it was a strong voice from Quebec.

00:04:19.660 We need this in our party, not because I'm a Quebecer,

00:04:23.960 just because, as you mentioned yourself,

00:04:25.840 I'm able to communicate to all Canadians in French and in English.

00:04:30.500 And I believe I'm truly bilingual.

00:04:32.720 And this is something that for me is not up for debate.

00:04:36.120 If we want to be a leader, you need to be able to reach

00:04:39.560 and to be able to communicate to all Canadians.

00:04:42.620 So that's why I'm running.

00:04:43.860 I am running a full, full campaign because of what's happening and the situation.

00:04:50.200 I've just canceled my trip to Saskatchewan.

00:04:53.680 But I had the opportunity already to go twice to Alberta.

00:04:57.460 I've been to Atlantic Canada.

00:04:59.360 I've just finished a little tour here in Ontario.

00:05:02.560 So I'm running a full campaign.

00:05:04.900 I'm asking people to trust me because I do believe that we need to take a different direction,

00:05:11.640 staying true to our principle.

00:05:13.600 But no, I am running a full campaign to lead this.

00:05:17.160 It isn't just about leading the party.

00:05:19.880 It's also about leading the country.

00:05:21.420 If you're successful and then win an election, you're going to be the prime minister.

00:05:24.280 And for a guy who's never held elected office, who's not a household name,

00:05:29.900 how do you justify telling Canadians that you deserve to be the prime minister of their country?

00:05:34.000 Let's be frank, Andrew.

00:05:35.720 Yes, I haven't been elected, but I've worked on the Hill for more than four years.

00:05:40.380 I know exactly all the parliamentary duties.

00:05:43.540 I worked on them.

00:05:44.580 I've worked on crafting bills that were introduced in parliament.

00:05:48.660 But it's not just about knowing how the process works.

00:05:51.700 It's about that idea of have you been in that public service capacity where Canadians can say,

00:05:57.400 yes, I know you.

00:05:58.360 Yes, I support what you're doing because you're asking them to let you be their prime minister.

00:06:02.880 Look, I've had the honor and the privilege of representing Canada in more than 55 countries

00:06:09.840 when I was working on the international trade.

00:06:13.700 I've traveled abroad, part of official delegation representing Canada.

00:06:18.140 I've worked on trade negotiation at the table, negotiating and supporting the work of our government

00:06:24.680 and the minister and our officials.

00:06:27.000 So I am very well aware of the challenges.

00:06:30.440 I've actually participated in many of Prime Minister Harper's own international trip where I worked

00:06:37.000 and I was there and I had the bilateral table meeting with China, meeting with India,

00:06:41.880 all the world leaders.

00:06:43.540 I've attended many international summits.

00:06:45.520 So I do believe that if Canadians pay attention to who I am and what I've done in the last,

00:06:51.260 and having both experience inside the government, yes, behind the scenes, but still where the work gets done,

00:06:58.940 but also in the private sector, I believe that I bring this right balance to lead this country,

00:07:04.520 lead our party, and making sure that we address what Canadians want from us.

00:07:09.320 You mentioned the 2011 election in which the Conservatives under Stephen Harper won a majority.

00:07:14.060 I think one of the dangers of that election is that it proved to Conservatives that you can win a majority without Quebec.

00:07:20.700 And that's surely something that you've had to contend with in the party where there hasn't been a priority for Quebec.

00:07:27.340 So what do you think needs to be done to tackle that, apart from just having a leader from Quebec?

00:07:32.060 No, look, it was a sad day for me in 2011 and also a very joyful day.

00:07:36.440 Obviously, yes, we won a majority government.

00:07:39.380 It was the accomplishment of many years of work, as you know, started in 2006, 2008, and finally in 2011, getting a majority.

00:07:47.540 But it was a sad day for me because it is true that we didn't get a lot of seats in Quebec,

00:07:53.600 and that narrative started that we can win a majority without Quebec.

00:07:57.960 I don't believe that it is the case and it will ever be the case again.

00:08:02.540 That's why I referenced earlier that we have to throw out the old playbook because those kinds of calculations in terms of writing and where we should win seats, I don't believe it's going to work.

00:08:13.920 That's why I've been saying that we need to have a positive, conservative message so we cannot grow our base.

00:08:20.140 We cannot do all those little calculations.

00:08:22.660 We need to grow our base.

00:08:23.880 We need to have people come in our party, and we need to have seats everywhere in this country.

00:08:29.040 I believe I can deliver that.

00:08:30.460 There seems to be a lot of resistance, especially from Western conservatives, to a Quebec leader.

00:08:37.380 And I know you've probably encountered that when you've been to the West, when you've been to Alberta, and even if people like you personally,

00:08:43.240 there is this reticence to embrace just another Quebec leader.

00:08:48.400 And I know it's unfair, but it's still something you have to contend with.

00:08:51.060 Look, I understand, but I beg to differ because I want to tell you very honestly, I'm a pro-energy Quebecer.

00:08:58.380 I've said it loud and clear in French and in English.

00:09:02.040 I do believe that also today is the premier's meeting, as you know, in Ottawa.

00:09:07.760 I have called officially for the government of Canada and me as a leader that I would make available immediately and for the years before the stabilization fund because we need to support Alberta and Saskatchewan.

00:09:23.000 I'm a pro-energy candidate coming from Quebec.

00:09:27.220 I think I can have this discussion with Quebecers about energy.

00:09:32.280 And I've said it very clear that, yes, we want transition on the environment.

00:09:36.300 But now and right now, as long as Canadians all over the country put gas in their tank, meaning they're still running a car that has oil, I want it to be Canadian energy.

00:09:48.940 And this is for LNG, for propane, for diesel, for gas.

00:09:53.400 And I've said it also in French and in English.

00:09:56.080 Some people are saying, oh, I'm for LNG and I'm against oil.

00:09:59.540 At the end of the day, it's all a pipeline and it's all Canadian energy.

00:10:04.420 So I believe that I was very well received in Alberta and Saskatchewan, knowing that there's a Quebecer in this race who's bilingual and who has their back.

00:10:13.340 That's the message I've sent.

00:10:14.700 And I was very well received.

00:10:16.580 Much of your work within government was on the trade portfolio, which I think most people could argue was one of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's greatest achievements.

00:10:25.660 Legacy, I can say.

00:10:26.820 The volume of trade agreements, everything from TPP to Central Europe and so on.

00:10:31.860 I mean, the work started under Stephen Harper for even deals that the current government did.

00:10:36.120 It's trying to take credit for our work.

00:10:38.300 Yeah, very much.

00:10:39.000 I agree with that.

00:10:40.520 All the time I look at them, I say, come on, guys, you weren't there.

00:10:43.760 Like, it's not true.

00:10:44.560 So how do you, as a pro-free trade guy, lead the Conservatives when there seems to be a creeping desire for protectionism and that populist sentiment that free trade isn't necessarily where we want to be moving forward?

00:10:59.700 You bring a very important topic.

00:11:01.680 Yes, I worked on free trade agreement, but I also work on something that is also very crucial at the moment was attracting investment to Canada because that was also something that we were working very hard.

00:11:11.900 As you know, when we were in government, we were able to attract patronists from Indonesia to come to Canada and invest.

00:11:18.500 A lot of investment from Europe, from Germany, for example, in the oil sands.

00:11:23.300 We, I think that the most important work that we have to do right now is to send a clear message that Canada is open for business.

00:11:31.720 You all know what happened last week in Alberta with the canceling of the tech project.

00:11:36.080 Even in Quebec, the Warren Buffett pulling out $4 billion out of LNG, we cannot have that.

00:11:43.140 That must be an absolute priority to, you know, rebuild that image that Canada is open for business.

00:11:51.380 On your point, yes, we have to continue to work on free trade.

00:11:56.160 Not only free trade across our borders, but free trade inside our borders.

00:12:01.300 Because you know, well, this is something that Canadians have been telling us over and over again.

00:12:07.540 How come, you know, sometimes it's easier for a company in Ontario to get support from the Canadian government to export to Europe or to Asia,

00:12:15.980 but they don't think about exporting to BC or Alberta.

00:12:21.420 Or the famous bringing a 12-pack of beer from New Brunswick.

00:12:23.780 I know the story about, yeah, I know the story about the beers, obviously, but it's more than that.

00:12:28.680 So we need to also make sure that Canadian companies, especially with like the uncertainty that is happening now around the world,

00:12:36.320 we need to be strong at home.

00:12:38.320 That will also be a priority, something that I don't believe that has been addressed properly.

00:12:43.000 But do you think there is a growing resistance within the Conservative movement or the Conservative Party to free trade

00:12:50.340 as people see their manufacturing plants in southern Ontario or their oil field in Alberta just hemorrhage money?

00:12:57.980 Look, I understand because, to be honest, there were some bad deals that were signed.

00:13:03.740 I don't believe that the renegotiation of the NAFTA was done properly and that sent that negative message.

00:13:10.640 Look, to be honest, I don't understand how Canada and the U.S. couldn't agree, for example, on autos,

00:13:18.440 making sure that the autos plants were not moving to Mexico.

00:13:22.480 We all know that it was a challenge that Canada had and the U.S.

00:13:26.580 We should have been able to do that.

00:13:28.820 Also in aluminum.

00:13:29.820 I mean, we were not able to get the U.S. to back us on aluminum to make sure that China doesn't import through Mexico aluminum to Canada

00:13:41.080 because that's the future.

00:13:42.260 We all know that cars are now being manufactured with more and more aluminum.

00:13:45.900 So I do understand that.

00:13:47.320 And this is the result of deals that were not done properly.

00:13:51.200 And negotiation, we were not, let's be honest, we were not properly aligned with the U.S. when we were negotiating.

00:14:01.080 And Canada didn't get the protection it deserved on aluminum, for example.

00:14:07.480 You've talked in your campaign about the need to have bold ideas.

00:14:12.000 For a guy who, using your own word, has been an insider, you've been in politics, you've been in government,

00:14:17.280 what is your perspective doing that differs from what we've had already when you have been a part of what we've had already?

00:14:24.780 Look, what I believe is that I just don't think that we are talking to Canadians on things that they care about. 0.70

00:14:32.880 I'll give you an example.

00:14:34.060 I just said that I worked abroad and I worked in a country where they had e-government,

00:14:42.460 that everything was, you could access everything electronically.

00:14:46.140 All of a sudden, I come back to Canada, I realize that my passport is going to expire, so I go.

00:14:52.240 I have to waste half a day, half a day, to go and submit documents that the Canadian government already have.

00:15:00.360 Why is the Canadian government, we haven't reshaped the delivery of services.

00:15:07.340 Right now, and you know it more than I do in terms of all the problems we face in terms of Phoenix,

00:15:13.000 the Canadian government cannot pay its own employee.

00:15:14.880 Let's face it, so how can it service you?

00:15:17.680 Tomorrow, you have a problem with your taxes or you're just unsure.

00:15:21.340 You know, maybe you're renting your cottage this summer and you say,

00:15:24.120 hey, what am I going to do with that money?

00:15:25.720 You pick up the phone, you call Canadian Revenue Agency.

00:15:28.780 After waiting for maybe four hours, there's a chance that there's 75% probability

00:15:35.940 that they will actually give you the wrong information.

00:15:38.400 Yes, yes.

00:15:38.740 This is the way that we have to address those things because Canadians want us to make their life easier.

00:15:46.420 Another example, cyber security.

00:15:49.140 People are worried about identity theft.

00:15:51.900 We need to address data in this country.

00:15:54.120 We need to address also copyrights, making sure that when we find something in Canada,

00:16:00.340 we make innovation, that this technology stays in Canada.

00:16:04.380 We are not talking about that.

00:16:06.140 Those are the things that I believe we haven't put forward to Canadians.

00:16:10.560 And that's why Canadians just felt that we didn't care or that our message was, again,

00:16:17.040 too traditional and they were not being connected.

00:16:20.740 So I want to talk about cyber security.

00:16:22.920 I'm worried about cyber security.

00:16:24.380 I receive every day or, you know, text messaging.

00:16:27.540 Oh, you just received the refund.

00:16:29.980 Click this and click there.

00:16:31.160 Yes or no?

00:16:31.860 We need to address that.

00:16:33.040 What about if my mother clicks on it?

00:16:35.120 She's going to have all her information stolen and we'll have to deal with it. 0.94

00:16:38.880 And we won't have any, who are we going to call?

00:16:41.240 The government is not going to be there to help us, where it should be there.

00:16:45.520 So those are the things that I want to bring forward because I don't think they've been

00:16:49.600 addressed.

00:16:50.160 And I do believe that Canadians are worried about it.

00:16:52.600 I want to make their life easier.

00:16:54.820 No one is anti cyber security.

00:16:57.160 No one is anti, well, some people are anti customer service and government, but no one

00:17:02.120 would say they are.

00:17:03.040 So what you're talking about is not controversial.

00:17:05.400 Why is it that in 10 years of a conservative government, these things couldn't be addressed?

00:17:10.340 It's a good question.

00:17:11.420 And that's why I'm running.

00:17:12.680 I'm telling you, why didn't we not talk more about those things during the campaign?

00:17:16.660 So your vision of boldness isn't about ideas that are radical, but ideas that there's no

00:17:21.920 excuse that shouldn't have been dealt.

00:17:23.120 Yes, it should have been done.

00:17:24.620 I just I just have this belief that the Canadian government is still operating like we're in

00:17:29.240 the 80s.

00:17:29.860 I give a good example.

00:17:31.060 I give the example that I still feel that we are in a BlackBerry age where now it's all

00:17:36.880 about the Amazon and the Apple.

00:17:38.580 Why is Amazon and Apple succeeding?

00:17:40.680 Because they're making your life easier, right?

00:17:42.880 With your thumb and with like your app, you can buy and access and do everything.

00:17:47.560 But when it comes to government services, nothing, nothing.

00:17:51.220 People have to go and stand in line to even receive benefits.

00:17:55.040 You have to register for your pension.

00:17:57.700 Why do you have to register for your pension?

00:17:59.400 It's the Canadian government who should tell you, oh, here's what you're entitled to.

00:18:03.520 Here's what you should be receiving.

00:18:05.400 Because there's no way in hell people are all experts and know exactly what they're entitled

00:18:11.140 to.

00:18:12.320 Do you think the failing of the Conservatives when you talked earlier about not talking

00:18:17.140 to people about the issues that they care about, do you think that is just about messaging?

00:18:20.660 Or do you think that the Conservative Party doesn't have answers to the questions that average

00:18:24.640 Canadians are asking?

00:18:25.540 I've said that I want to run a positive campaign because I do believe that we were not positive

00:18:31.180 enough.

00:18:31.920 And when I talk about those topics, I believe that innovation, cybersecurity, all of that,

00:18:37.100 I believe it's part of a positive Conservative vision that we have to put forward.

00:18:41.660 Look, Canadians know that we are the best, best managers for the economy.

00:18:47.320 They know, they trust us on that.

00:18:49.460 We've balanced the book under the Harper government.

00:18:51.980 But only running on this is not enough.

00:18:55.600 That's why we have to say also that we care for each other.

00:18:58.720 I'm just afraid sometimes that our libertarian message feels a bit lacking compassion.

00:19:07.260 So people feel that we don't care for each other.

00:19:10.600 But we do.

00:19:11.540 You all know that, you know, if you play by the rules and you work hard, you should receive,

00:19:18.060 you know, the fruit of your labor.

00:19:20.980 But I do believe that sometimes we are not putting forward a positive Conservative vision.

00:19:26.900 And I've committed in this campaign that I will not attack the current Prime Minister.

00:19:33.180 Because I do believe that a leadership race is not about that.

00:19:36.880 It's about telling our members and Canadians of what we're going to do for them.

00:19:42.580 Attacking Justin Trudeau will be at a later stage.

00:19:46.240 But for the moment, Canadians want to know what we are going to do for them.

00:19:50.900 You said in a CTV interview a week or two back that you are opposed to a carbon tax,

00:19:56.300 but you support a price on carbon.

00:19:58.100 And that's a distinction that we usually hear from the Liberals,

00:20:01.420 where they say the carbon tax isn't actually a carbon tax.

00:20:03.980 And I wondered if you could explain a bit more about your vision on that.

00:20:07.680 Because there were a lot of people, myself included, that were like,

00:20:09.860 hang on, calling it a price instead of a tax doesn't change the fundamental nature of it.

00:20:13.460 No, no, no.

00:20:13.720 It's like, I want to be very clear.

00:20:15.260 Look, what I was saying is that, first of all,

00:20:17.440 my priority is to make sure that there's not one size fits all.

00:20:20.620 Because we all know our country.

00:20:21.980 And we know that there's different systems, there's different economics depending.

00:20:26.300 I don't want the whole Ottawa knows best.

00:20:29.540 For example, I've said it in Quebec, we have cap and trade.

00:20:33.640 So it's not a carbon tax.

00:20:35.160 Even the Premier of Quebec joined the other premiers challenging the carbon tax.

00:20:40.960 But there is a price on carbon through the carbon trade system.

00:20:45.100 I'm okay with that system because the provinces made that decision.

00:20:48.980 Recently in Alberta, Jason Kenney also made sure that large emitters will also face a price.

00:20:57.660 It is not a carbon tax.

00:20:59.020 It's making sure that large emitters will pay.

00:21:02.620 And I'm okay also with that system because it was designed to make sure that large emitters,

00:21:08.820 and not mom and dad driving their kids to school, you know, on a Thursday night,

00:21:15.040 get the big burden of a carbon tax because they don't have a choice but to use their car

00:21:20.120 because they don't have transit or there's no system.

00:21:23.020 I don't want them to pay.

00:21:24.780 But I want to make sure that the large emitters do have to pay because, let's be honest,

00:21:30.160 and as I said, I think that we need a transition, but we also need to champion energy.

00:21:35.120 But as a conservative, you know that any fee or price or tax that's put on a large company

00:21:41.760 gets passed down at some point.

00:21:44.540 It gets passed down to their clients, it gets passed down to their customers,

00:21:47.660 and it also gets passed down to consumers.

00:21:50.020 And then you add the additional aspect of that, which is that if you want to make Canada competitive

00:21:54.140 with the United States as an example of a country that's trying to stay away from these sorts of pricing,

00:22:01.360 how do you maintain a competitive country while using a punitive measure,

00:22:06.000 even if it is focused at the highest levels?

00:22:08.920 I believe that companies are already investing a large, large, large amount in R&D.

00:22:14.680 So why do we need to have a government answer?

00:22:16.740 But that's the thing.

00:22:17.580 So I believe that by making sure that we have incentive for companies to reduce their green gas emission,

00:22:25.020 and they have this incentive, are investing in R&D, that is the path forward.

00:22:30.000 Because companies have told us, don't tax us twice, which is what's happening with the carbon tax,

00:22:35.160 by saying, oh, I'm paying for something, but I don't know where is it going.

00:22:39.100 That's why when we brought forward our plan under the last campaign, we said,

00:22:43.380 look, if you're going to spend that money in R&D, that should be count towards your effort,

00:22:49.920 and it shouldn't be, obviously, go to the government, because you are making those efforts.

00:22:55.260 So this is where I want to go.

00:22:57.240 But I do believe that we need to send a message to large emitters and big companies

00:23:03.260 that they have to reduce their green gas emission.

00:23:08.180 So let's talk about the vision you have for the party,

00:23:11.320 because I know that one of the criticisms that has been put towards you in the last couple of weeks

00:23:15.180 has been that you would basically close off the party to social conservatives

00:23:19.600 who make up a sizable enough chunk.

00:23:22.320 We don't know the exact number, and I know that you're personally not interested in revisiting these issues.

00:23:27.240 Do you think that the ideal conservative party, the conservative party led by Rudy Husney,

00:23:31.900 would not have the ability for individual MPs to champion issues of conscience?

00:23:37.040 Look, I believe our party needs a generational change.

00:23:41.220 That's also why I'm running.

00:23:42.740 Look, I'm going to be completely honest with you.

00:23:45.960 When it comes to LGBT, I have friends that are LGBT.

00:23:50.660 They are my friends.

00:23:51.640 They are not LGBT, because that's been something that has been normal for me.

00:23:56.380 That's how I grew up.

00:23:57.840 I worked with them.

00:23:58.880 There was never been any difference.

00:24:01.700 Same for me for abortion. 0.99

00:24:03.740 I'm not part of this generation that was part of that debate,

00:24:07.740 and that's why I'm saying, for me, this has been settled in the past.

00:24:11.400 So is it a generational thing?

00:24:15.280 For me, that's why I've been clear.

00:24:16.900 I say, look, for me, those debates are in the past,

00:24:19.780 and this is part of the person I am because this is how I grew up.

00:24:25.460 That's why I was asked, are you going to march in a pride parade?

00:24:29.200 And I said, yes, but I said, I didn't make that decision today.

00:24:32.840 For me, it's been something that it's been normal because I have friends with different

00:24:37.880 orientation, and that's how I grew up, from school to university to work.

00:24:42.040 And there's been never, for me, any differences or whatever.

00:24:45.580 So this is the message I want to send, and that's why I'm saying I don't want to revisit

00:24:50.020 those debates because I do believe that those happened before.

00:24:56.820 And I just, the same as, you know, I've mentioned that in the last campaign,

00:25:01.240 we didn't talk about the things that Canadians wanted.

00:25:04.020 This is also, for me, another example.

00:25:06.940 For me, if we're going to talk about those debates, it means that it's a priority for us.

00:25:12.800 If it is a priority for us, we're sending the wrong message.

00:25:16.320 And that's why I'm saying, please understand and focus on what the Canadians want right now.

00:25:21.760 They are not asking us, and there's no consensus about that because for them, it's been settled.

00:25:27.740 And I guess that even if we accept that premise, and I think that was the Stephen Harper position,

00:25:33.160 and that was even the Andrew Scheer position, despite his personal convictions,

00:25:37.700 we look at a party that has, and we know from leadership races,

00:25:41.440 a chunk that care about, even if you take LGBT issues out of the equation, abortion, that are pro-life.

00:25:47.600 And does your Conservative Party have a place for them?

00:25:51.600 Obviously, I respect everyone's views.

00:25:54.760 I don't want one side to impose a view on the other side.

00:25:58.220 But is that not what you're doing right now?

00:25:59.420 No, no, because the debate happened already, and it has been settled.

00:26:03.460 So I just don't want to be reopened because now the larger consensus that the Canadian government

00:26:09.620 and the House of Commons and Canadians have been settled.

00:26:13.880 So if people want to have an abortion, they are free to have it.

00:26:18.000 And if people don't want to have an abortion, they can also have the same and follow their own principle.

00:26:24.360 I just don't want to reopen the debate and having one side trying to impose their view on the other one

00:26:30.420 because, for me, that matter has been settled.

00:26:32.580 But I guess the issue is, and it's not even about the merits of pro-life, pro-choice,

00:26:37.380 it's about the idea of liberty within your caucus.

00:26:40.860 If you tell the members, if you tell members of your caucus, if you're the leader,

00:26:45.500 this issue is settled, you can't address this as an individual member,

00:26:50.780 you are imposing, are you not?

00:26:52.720 No, look, what I'm going to, being an MP, being an MP is obviously a privilege.

00:26:58.420 Yes.

00:26:59.080 But you also have duties.

00:27:00.840 You have duties to your constituents.

00:27:03.060 You have duty to Canadians making sure that you address their priority.

00:27:08.440 If Canadians are telling us this is not their priority,

00:27:12.700 why would an MP use a privilege instead of their duties to bring forward a bill

00:27:19.560 that is on a matter that Canadians are not asking him to do it because this matter has been settled?

00:27:25.360 Because, let's be frank, if somebody brings a bill on that topic,

00:27:30.160 it means that another bill on e-government or on innovation

00:27:34.600 or just on making sure that people have rural internet or large,

00:27:40.200 whatever makes the life of Canadians easy wouldn't happen.

00:27:43.820 So, I'm just asking them to pick and choose the priority of Canadians 1.00

00:27:48.060 because otherwise they're going to bring a bill

00:27:50.640 and we won't be able to deliver on the things that we want to put forward.

00:27:55.780 Moving beyond social issues, are there any others where you think that

00:27:59.900 the individual members need to really adhere to the party line?

00:28:04.600 Is this strictness that you have limited to the social issues or is it a broader philosophy?

00:28:09.780 And I've been clear and I've been asked.

00:28:12.080 I just believe that when it comes to LGBT and abortion, this debate is in the past.

00:28:17.080 I know, for example, that we are going to have a debate on, again, on the assistant dying bill

00:28:22.300 just because there's been some decision.

00:28:24.500 There's a law and there's going to be, it was challenged in court.

00:28:28.260 The court rendered some decision and it's going to go through the parliamentary.

00:28:32.520 The moment it goes through the parliamentary duty,

00:28:35.480 of course, they will have liberty to express their position

00:28:39.760 and they will have a fulsome debate

00:28:41.980 because this is something that is part of the normal operation.

00:28:46.340 We had a law, it was challenged, it is part of the agenda of the government.

00:28:50.220 What I don't want is to bring something that is not on the agenda

00:28:53.760 and make it an agenda item.

00:28:57.040 That's why I'm saying it.

00:28:58.140 But for the rest, no, I mean, I will let people vote.

00:29:03.100 I will bring forward things and I will let them vote.

00:29:06.040 But as I said, what I want to bring forward are the things that Canadians care about.

00:29:10.220 I know you said you want to run a positive campaign.

00:29:12.980 So I hope this doesn't force you to break that.

00:29:15.620 But are there any policies that the Trudeau government has put in

00:29:18.620 that you think as a very point of priority for you

00:29:23.580 need to be reversed under the next Conservative government?

00:29:26.520 I've said something that is, I've just mentioned it,

00:29:29.620 like we will have to work tirelessly the moment we get elected

00:29:33.560 to restore Canada's reputation abroad in terms of being open for business.

00:29:39.740 But that's not a policy change, though.

00:29:42.180 That's a longer-term effort, isn't it?

00:29:42.860 No, because we will have to make changes, again, to our corporate,

00:29:46.240 making Canada attracting for investment.

00:29:50.000 Also, when it comes to investment coming from abroad,

00:29:53.660 we have to review it because they made it more difficult and not appropriate.

00:30:00.000 Look, we all know that there's been some foreign takeovers of Canadian companies

00:30:03.480 that received no review whatsoever because they changed the threshold, for example.

00:30:08.520 Look, I've been asked, and I know maybe I've been asked on CTV about marijuana.

00:30:14.380 I've said that personally I was against.

00:30:17.040 Now it's the law.

00:30:18.480 I'm not going to revisit that because, again, it's part of my philosophy

00:30:22.800 that if it has been settled, I'm not going to revisit that.

00:30:25.920 If I'm not revisiting a law that has been passed, what, two years ago, I believe, marijuana,

00:30:30.320 why do you want me to go and revisit a bill that was 15 years ago or 20 years ago?

00:30:35.020 Does that outlook, though, limit you in many respects?

00:30:38.820 Because it means that you're forced to live with bad decisions by past governments.

00:30:43.840 No, I think we need to be pragmatic.

00:30:46.680 I just believe that there's no, and I've seen it myself,

00:30:50.120 in terms of working with ministers and working with a prime minister

00:30:53.920 and working with a leader of the opposition,

00:30:55.620 I think that you have to have a balance between being principled and being pragmatic.

00:31:02.300 There's no ministers, there's no prime minister that, even in their life,

00:31:06.840 must betray their own principles sometimes a little bit to be pragmatic.

00:31:12.200 Best example, and it's Prime Minister Harper who said it,

00:31:15.360 on the day of his birthday, as a conservative,

00:31:17.840 he had to bail out the auto sector and make one of the largest bailouts in Canadian history.

00:31:25.880 That was a very tough decision for him.

00:31:28.320 He even said it, that went against all his principle,

00:31:31.520 against all his bones in terms of being an economist and all of that,

00:31:36.480 but he had to do it because it was the right thing to do.

00:31:39.340 So what I'm telling Canadians is that I'm principled,

00:31:42.640 but you also have to be pragmatic in certain situations,

00:31:47.360 and this is the balance that is required.

00:31:49.320 I've witnessed it.

00:31:50.740 I know that it's something that is part of the leadership role,

00:31:56.420 and I'm prepared for that.

00:31:57.860 Rudy Husney, political staffer, candidate,

00:32:00.620 now leadership candidate for the Conservatives.

00:32:02.840 Thank you for your time.

00:32:03.720 Thank you, Andrew. Thank you very much.

00:32:05.600 And this is another part of the Conservative Leadership Series

00:32:08.460 here on The Andrew Lawton Show.

00:32:10.020 We'll have more in the weeks to come.

00:32:11.980 My thanks to all of you for tuning in and to Rudy for his time.

00:32:15.280 Thank you, God bless, and good day, Canada.

00:32:17.080 Thanks for listening to The Andrew Lawton Show.

00:32:19.180 Support the program by donating to True North at www.tnc.news.

Juno News - March 17, 2020

Conservative Leadership Series： Rudy Husny

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