People害羞草研究所檚 Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier says fewer immigrants coming to Vancouver and Toronto would mean less pressure on the housing market in these cities. He was extremely well received inside the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel ballroom in Surrey, where he spoke Wednesday morning and received standing ovations.

Out in the hallway, on the other side of locked doors, protesters hollered their discontent.

Bernier said 41 per cent of immigrants settle in Vancouver and Toronto.

害羞草研究所淪o, if you have fewer of them, that won害羞草研究所檛 put a bigger pressure on the housing market,害羞草研究所� he said.

Bernier said that if elected, his government would cut foreign aid, noting Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 government gave $2.2 billion to African countries to fight climate change.

害羞草研究所淲e can save money there,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut yes, we are generous as Canadians, yes, if there害羞草研究所檚 an environmental disaster somewhere, we will be there to help, and if there is a humanitarian crisis, we will be there, but not to build growth, and bridges, and pipelines in Asia. We need to help our people first.害羞草研究所�

Bernier was the fourth speaker in the Surrey Board of Trade害羞草研究所檚 series of 害羞草研究所渢own hall害羞草研究所� speaking engagements that showcases federal party leaders heading into the October general election.

The Sept. 25 event at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel drew eight protesters ahead of his talk, pacing out on the sidewalk carrying signs with slogans like 害羞草研究所淧oisonous political candidate.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he Surrey Board of Trade has invited Maxime Bernier, the leader of the far-right, racist, anti-immigrant party, People害羞草研究所檚 Party of Canada. We害羞草研究所檙e here to say no to Bernier and all the toxic politics that he represents,害羞草研究所� said Isabel Krupp, who held a sign that read 害羞草研究所淩efugees Welcome Here.害羞草研究所�

Another protester, Dave Diewert, said the rally was organized by the 害羞草研究所淎nti-Police Power Surrey害羞草研究所� group.

Diewert said those who came to protest oppose 害羞草研究所渇ar-right racist discourse that really gives oxygen to white supremacy and to an anti-immigrant sentiment.害羞草研究所�

Inside, Bernier called for Canada to allow 150,000 immigrants in per year, instead of 310,000.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not anti-immigration, but we害羞草研究所檙e not for mass immigration.害羞草研究所�

He said this past year 害羞草研究所渙nly 26 per cent害羞草研究所� were economic-class immigrants and if elected, he害羞草研究所檇 like to see that change to 50 per cent. 害羞草研究所淭hey will help us to build this country. That害羞草研究所檚 what we need.害羞草研究所�

Bernier said Canada takes in more refugees than the U.S. and all European countries, 害羞草研究所渟o we need to stop that. But the problem is we don害羞草研究所檛 receive the real refugees, that are waiting in the country where their life is in danger,害羞草研究所� but instead border jumpers, 40 per cent of whom will end up being deported.

Eight protesters outside Sheraton hotel in Guildford voicing opposition to People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier speaking there today. Isabel Krupp and Dave Diewert explain why.

害羞草研究所� Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)

Full house here at Sheraton hotel ballroom in Surrey to hear Maxime Bernier speak this morning at townhall meeting organized by Surrey Board of Trade, which has security on hand.

害羞草研究所� Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)

Maxime Bernier on protesters hollering at him in Surrey today#surreybc

害羞草研究所� Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)

It was a full house inside the hotel害羞草研究所檚 ballroom, with security guards on hand and RCMP in the hallway.

害羞草研究所淲hen people are calling names at us, for me, it is because they are weak,害羞草研究所� Bernier told the crowd. 害羞草研究所淭hey don害羞草研究所檛 want to have a discussion.害羞草研究所�

He added that his political party is the fastest-growing in the country.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e in Canada, a strong democracy. We must have the right to say what we believe in,害羞草研究所� he said to applause. 害羞草研究所淲e call that in our country free speech.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not popular. Our ideas are popular,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e know we have the best ideas when we speak about freedom, and personal responsibility, and respect and fairness. These are Canadian values, and values coming from the Western Civilization, and western countries.害羞草研究所�

If elected, Bernier said, his party would end corporate welfare, and abolish capital tax.

SEE MORE:

Bernier: "I'm not popular. Our ideas are popular."

害羞草研究所� Tom Zytaruk (@tomzytaruk)

The Surrey series has already heard from Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, in February, Green Party leader Elizabeth May in April and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh in August.

SBoT CEO Anita Huberman said the business group also had security when NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh came to Surrey for the town hall series.

Huberman said Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has not yet been scheduled to speak.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e just waiting for him to confirm a date,害羞草研究所� she said.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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