By Alex Boutilier Ottawa Bureau
Tue., Sept. 14, 2021
OTTAWA — Far-right and white nationalist groups are pushing their followers to support Maxime Bernier’s insurgent People’s Party of Canada in next week’s federal election.
On the fringes of the internet and in encrypted chat rooms, groups like Canada First and the Canadian Nationalist Front are encouraging their thousands of adherents to back Bernier’s PPC.
While not all People’s Party supporters are motivated by white nationalism or far-right extremism, it is clear that white nationalist and far-right groups view the party as a viable vehicle for their grievance-fuelled politics.
The party, which polls suggest has seen a surge in public support in recent weeks, has found support among some in far-right circles over its opposition to mandatory vaccinations, vaccine passports, and Bernier’s pledge to dramatically curb immigration.
But the party’s anti-establishment pose appears to be the common thread uniting far-right groups behind Bernier.
“Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh and Erin O’Toole may get the grand share of the votes, but they represent nobody other than the system; and we f - - - - - - hate them,” reads one recent post on Canada First’s Telegram channel, which boast nearly 5,000 subscribers.
“Vote PPC, take as much power away from these three shills as you possibly can.”
“Beware of people that sow division, ‘tis the tactic of our leftist enemies to spread disinformation,” reads another from the Canadian Nationalist Front. “Stick to the important issues like immigration reform and economics, ignore the dividers, PPC is the only viable option in the future for our future.”
