Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People鈥檚 Party of Canada was in the South Okanagan on April 12, meeting supporters and the public at events in Summerland and Osoyoos.

The Summerland event was held at the Harold Simpson Youth Centre from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. while the Osoyoos event was at Diamond Steak House from 4 to 6 p.m.

The party is fielding candidates in the region. In the riding of Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna, Debra(Debbie) Robinson is the candidate under the People鈥檚 Party banner, a party she joined in 2018.

The riding includes Summerland, Peachland, West Kelowna and a portion of Kelowna.

In the riding of Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay, Barry Dewar is the party鈥檚 candidate. This riding includes Princeton, Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos, Grand Forks, Castlegar and Trail.

During his time in the South Okanagan, Bernier spoke about topics including limiting immigration, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a call for balanced budgets and a call for a smaller federal government in Canada.

鈥淲e need to have the big common-sense revolution,鈥� he said.

The People鈥檚 Party of Canada was formed in 2018, shortly after Bernier resigned from the Conservative Party of Canada.

Since its inception, the party has run candidates in most federal ridings but has not seen any candidates elected under its banner. However, Bernier believes the People鈥檚 Party will become a dominant force at the federal level. 

鈥淚 know that we will win,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur time will come because it鈥檚 all about truth, based on facts.鈥�

This is not Bernier鈥檚 first visit to the South Okanagan.

In May 2019, ahead of the federal election later that year, Bernier spoke to supporters in Penticton, campaigning for improved interprovincial trade and removing the barriers affecting trade between provinces in Canada.