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People’s Party of Canada appoints local interim electoral district association

Oct 12, 2018 | 5:51 PM

Organizers with the new People’s Party of Canada say interest is growing across the country and locally, where the party hosted a grassroots meeting Thursday for volunteers and those interested in joining the new political group.

Not yet an official political party, volunteers with the People’s Party of Canada have begun working toward the 2019 federal election, hosting meetings and building membership within the organization.

The party was started by Maxime Bernier after he resigned from the Conservative Party. Bernier filed for official party status earlier this week.

Volunteers hosted a meeting in Prince Albert Thursday to elect interim representatives for the local riding. Kelly Day, who was appointed president of the new interim association Thursday, said a local vice-president, treasurer and secretary have also been appointed and the party has a lot of potential in Prince Albert.

Thursday’s event was the first electoral district association meeting to be held in Saskatchewan.

“I think it’s exciting times,” Day added. “Some people that have never gotten into politics before are saying, you know, I’m following now, I’m really paying attention and it was really interesting, that’s what we found last night.”

While the party is still in its infancy, Day said there is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes so the party can begin fundraising and campaigning once official party status is approved. The party is recruiting new members in person and through its website and already had some 22,000 people sign up across the country, she added.

“These are the things we have to have set up, and the quicker we set them up, when that day comes that it is absolutely official, then we are able to just move forward a little more seamlessly,” Day said. “Anybody who wants to be a part of this in any capacity that feels that they align with the values is more than welcome to go and sign up.”

Day said the local electoral association will be planning more events in the coming months for those who want to learn about the People’s Party of Canada. Day said she is planning to put her name forward as a local party candidate once the party becomes official.

“A lot of people don’t know much about it or the platform,” Day added.  “As far as why I’m choosing to follow [Bernier] it’s just a matter of someone who stands by what they say and does what they say and has integrity and has many values and policies that I personally agree with.”

 

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt