MP McLeod: “People who have supported Max in the past are very angry with him.”

Aug 23, 2018 | 2:05 PM

HALIFAX — Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod isn’t worried the departure of high profile MP Maxime Bernier will lead to a split in the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC).

Bernier announced he was leaving the party this morning, condemning the Conservatives and leader Andrew Scheer as having betrayed the party’s core principles.

Bernier, who finished second to Scheer in last year’s leadership contest, is planning to build his own federal party.

Speaking to CFJC Today from the party’s convention in Halifax, McLeod says it doesn’t appear Bernier has any support within the CPC.

“We are 100 per cent behind Andrew Scheer,” said McLeod. “I think Maxime Bernier is still wanting to fight the last leadership race. A year ago, the party’s membership made a decision. So this is more about Max and his ego, and less about doing what’s right for the party, and right in terms of conservative principles.”

2019 is a federal election year, and some analysts say a rift in the Conservatives could pave the way for Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party to win a second consecutive mandate.

But McLeod says there is no rift; Bernier is simply following his ego.

“To be quite frank, I think people aren’t really worried about the internal workings of minor issues. What they really want to know is that they have Conservatives that are standing up for jobs, they’re standing up for balanced budgets, they’re standing up against the disastrous foreign affairs policies that the current government has,” said McLeod.

Prominent Conservatives and former Bernier supporters such as MP Tony Clement have lashed out at Bernier on social media.

McLeod says no one within caucus is happy with the Quebec MP.

“It’s interesting to be at convention because most of the people who have supported Max in the past are just very angry with him,” said McLeod. “I know from talking with caucus colleagues that we’re right behind our leader.”