Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday August 17, 2018
Scheer cautions Bernier: Members of caucus need to work together
May 19, 2017
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer issued an indirect warning to outspoken caucus member Maxime Bernier on Thursday: members of caucus are expected to be team-players, focused on the same goal.
“There is an expectation in our caucus, and on our team, that everyone is focused on working together to earn back the trust of Canadians and to replace Justin Trudeau as prime minister in the next election,” Scheer said.
“Every Member of Parliament should be, as their key priority, working towards putting out the types of policies that resonate with Canadians.”
His comments to reporters in Regina come after a few days of back and forth exchanges over the Quebec MP’s public remarks.
On Sunday evening, Bernier issued a series of tweets on diversity, saying that “Trudeau’s extreme multiculturalism and cult of diversity will divide us into little tribes,” and that “more diversity will not be our strength, it will destroy what has made us such a great country.”
September 22, 2015
Bernier then questioned the naming of a park after Pakistan’s founder; and criticized the federal government looking to make a statutory holiday in recognition of residential schools as a “cult of victimhood.”
On Wednesday night, Scheer issued a statement distancing himself and the party from the outspoken Quebec MP and characterized his comments as using identity politics to divide Canadians.
Bernier followed that up Thursday morning with another round of tweets denying he was engaging in identity politics.
Facing questions about whether he’s entertaining the possibility of Bernier’s removal from caucus—something Liberals and New Democrats have called for— Scheer said he wouldn’t talk about internal caucus matters but pointed out that it would be something decided on as a team. (Source: CTV)