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==== Red Tape Commission ====
==== Red Tape Commission ====
During his time, he led the red tape commission which created a rule that for every regulation added then another one has to be cut. <ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/video-feds-to-cut-red-tape-for-small-business/article1356282/?from=4197491}} </ref>
During his time, he led the red tape commission which created a rule that for every regulation added then another one has to be cut.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/video-feds-to-cut-red-tape-for-small-business/article1356282/?from=4197491}}</ref>


==Opposition Critic==
==Opposition Critic==

Revision as of 14:29, 10 February 2017

The Honourable
Maxime Bernier
PC MP
Official Opposition Critic for Innovation, Science, and Economic Development
In office
November 20, 2015 – April 7, 2016
LeaderRona Ambrose
Preceded byPeggy Nash
Succeeded byDiane Finley
Minister of Small Business and Tourism
In office
May 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Prime MinisterStephen Harper
Preceded byRob Moore
Succeeded byBardish Chagger
7th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
August 13, 2007 – May 26, 2008
Prime MinisterStephen Harper
Preceded byPeter MacKay
Succeeded byDavid Emerson
Minister of Industry
In office
February 6, 2006 – August 13, 2007
Prime MinisterStephen Harper
Preceded byDavid Emerson
Succeeded byJim Prentice
Chair of the Standing Committee on
National Defence
In office
March 9, 2009 – June 20, 2011
MinisterPeter Mackay
Preceded byRick Casson
Succeeded byJames Bezan
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Beauce
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 23, 2006
Preceded byClaude Drouin
Personal details
Born (1963-01-18) January 18, 1963 (age 61)
Saint-Georges, Quebec, Canada
Political partyConservative
SpouseDivorced
Residence(s)Saint-Georges, Quebec, Canada
ProfessionBusinessman, lawyer, consultant

Maxime Bernier, PC, MP (born January 18, 1963) is a Canadian businessman, lawyer, and politician, who is currently serving as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Beauce in Quebec. Bernier has been elected four times with a majority of the vote in his riding. During his time in politics, he served as the Minister of Industry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, and Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism and Agriculture in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He is now the Official Opposition Critic for Innovation, Science, and Economic Development.

Background

Bernier was born in Saint-Georges, Quebec, the son of Doris (Rodrigue) and Gilles Bernier, a well known radio host, who represented the riding of Beauce from 1984 to 1997, first as a Progressive Conservative and then as an independent.[1][2] He has two sisters, Brigitte and Caroline, and one brother, Gilles Bernier, Jr. In his teens Bernier played football and was a member of the Condors, the team of the Séminaire St-Georges, when they won the Bol d’Or at the Olympic Stadium in 1980. He has participated in several marathons and runs daily. He obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Université du Québec à Montréal, and went on to complete his law degree at the University of Ottawa. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1990.

For 19 years, Bernier has held positions in several financial and banking institutions, including the National Bank, the Securities Commission of Québec, and Standard Life of Canada, to that of Executive Vice-President of the Montreal Economic Institute, a prominent Quebec free-market think tank.[3] During his time in the think tank, he co-authored a book on tax reform.

Personal Life

The father of two children, Bernier and their mother have been divorced for several years. However, Bernier explains that he keeps his children's life private and is proud of them.[4] On September 29, 2013, he trained for and ran an ultramarathon for thirteen hours and raised $153,000 for a local food bank.[5]

Politics

Bernier became the Conservative Party candidate in the riding of Beauce for the 2006 federal election. Before 2006, Bernier has explained he was not active in politics and decided to join the Consevative party over their stance of federal centralization. The Conservatives had been shut out of Quebec in the 2004 election but Bernier, whose father had previously represented the riding, was well known and well liked in the area, and was seen as one of the Conservatives' best hopes of electing an MP in the province.[6] Bernier described that his father was a stereotypical career Quebec politician, and tries to avoid that stereotype.[citation needed] Bernier voted no in the 1995 Quebec referendum. Bernier explained that while he did not favour the centralized approach of the federalist elite, he did not believe that the separatist establishment could address all of his concerns.[7]

Bernier has long been viewed as one of the most libertarian politicians in Canada, and a leader of the limited government wing of the Conservative Party . Bernier has an history quoting Friedrich Hayek. His beliefs have caused him to be nicknamed "Mad Max", the "Bloc-buster" or the "Albertan from Quebec" by his Ottawa colleagues.[8] He has said that his views were shaped by his life experiences.[9][10][11]

Political views

In 2017, Bernier considers himself libertarian but reasonable.[12]

Vision

He told Huffington Post Canada in December 2015 that he would focus his platform on a "more decentralized federalism, a smaller government less involved in Canadians' day-to-day lives, as well as more personal freedoms".[13]

Corporate Welfare

"It's not the job of the government to give money to businesses", he said at the 2016 Manning Centre Conference in Ottawa. "I think people understand that. Small businesses don't have the connections or the time to get a handout from the government."[14]

International Development

On March 19, 2016, at the Conservative Future's Conference[15] he cited the liberalization of China, India, "other 3rd world countries" that lifted "millions of people out of poverty", citing "less government and more freedom". In the same speech he also criticized policies creating "more government" to address poverty and unfairness in the free market as "nonsense".[16] Bernier later clarified that his comments were a joke and questioned Press Progress due to their connection to the NDP.[17]

Climate change/Bureaucracy

Bernier has suggested that there are uncertainties or exaggerations about anthropogenic climate change and its significance.[18][19][20][21] Bernier later clarified that he wanted scientists to stay out of public policy. He also mentioned that he did not want the government to dictate scientific policy.[22]

Foreign Affairs

He did not support the Iraq War.[23]

Regionalism

In 2010, Bernier was rumoured to be the MP that prevented the federal government from spending $175 million for Videotron Centre in Quebec City.[24] Even though, most of his Quebec colleagues did support the investment.[25] Even when there were rumours of the government making the investment, Bernier did not waver his position by pointing out the growing budget deficit as an issue.[26]

Immigration

In 2017, Bernier stated that while "it was nice" that Canadians wanted to help refugees, it should not come at the cost of its citizens. He points out that he prefers private sponsorship over government sponsor due to logisitical challeanges that a government sponsor may face.[27]

Industry Minister

Bernier was one of the higher-profile freshman MPs from Quebec, and as such, on February 6, 2006, he was appointed Minister of Industry. He was also the minister responsible for Statistics Canada, and by virtue of being appointed as the Minister of Industry, Bernier also served as the Registrar General.[28] During his time as Industry Minister Bernier set in motion/credited the steps that led to deregulation of the telecommunication industry.[29][30][31] Professor Richard J. Schultz from McGill University lauded his attempt to deregulate the telecommunications industry, calling him "the best Industry Minister in 30 years, without challenge".[32]

Foreign Affairs Minister

On August 14, 2007, Bernier was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Peter MacKay who became the Minister of National Defence.[33][34]

Couillard affair

Bernier came under intense scrutiny after the media discovered that his former girlfriend Julie Couillard, predating their relationship, had romantic links with people that had connections to the Hells Angels before 1999.[35]

In April 2008, Bernier inadvertently left sensitive government documents at Couillard's home.[36] Couillard gave the documents to a lawyer for transmittal to the government, and then the media revealed her links. Although Prime Minister Stephen Harper had initially dismissed Bernier's relationship with Couillard as irrelevant,[37] he accepted Bernier's resignation.[36] (International Trade Minister David Emerson became the interim minister of Foreign Affairs following Bernier's resignation, and in June became his permanent replacement.)[38][39]

An internal government report dated 16 July 2008 found that Bernier did not adequately safeguard the NATO conference briefing materials, in leaving the documents unattended in an unlocked briefcase both in a Bucharest hotel room and in Canada. The documents related to a NATO summit in Romania, and addressed NATO's relationship with Russia; expansion to the Balkans; Afghan prisoners; the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; AECL reactors in Estonia; and the presence of Al-Qaida in Pakistan, among other topics.[40] Bernier accepted blame for the incident and resigned his cabinet post on May 26, 2008.[36] The review (conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs) found that the content of the documents, if disclosed, "would not have caused significant injury to the national interest", but also found "the incident itself was injurious to the national interest by tarnishing Canada's good reputation within NATO circles for safeguarding classified information."[41][42]

Several weeks later, Bernier apologized to his family members, who felt dishonored by his actions. Bernier mentioned that this incident made him rethink why he was in politics and decided to stay out of the public eye.

In 2010, Bernier was recruited by the now defunct ADQ to become their leader. It was supported by Ottawa insider as a potential swap with Mario Dumont. However, he decided to rejected the opportunity based on the time.[43] 

Whenever asked about the incident, Bernier mentions that he keeps government information within the parliament while staying up late to finish duties. He also explains that his constituents have told him that they did not have an issue with Couillard's past, and would vote for him if he did not get into trouble.[44]
Criticism

Journalist Chantal Hébert criticized the reaction to the incident by opposition parties, and said that both the Bloc Québécois and the Liberals had been actively lobbying the media to break the news for weeks. Hébert says that Couillard never had any criminal record and was not charged with criminal activity, and that investigative journalists could not find links between Couillard and the bikers since 1999. Also, Hébert says that it is "just about unprecedented for a Quebec party to venture into the private life of a political opponent in this fashion" and that most Quebec politicians avoid using such tactics.[45]

Minister of State

On May 18, 2011, Bernier was appointed as Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism). His responsibilities were expanded with his appointment on July 15, 2013 to Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism and Agriculture)[46] He served in this last role until the new cabinet was sworn in on November 3, 2015, following the Harper Government's defeat on October 19, 2015.[47]

Red Tape Commission

During his time, he led the red tape commission which created a rule that for every regulation added then another one has to be cut.[48]

Opposition Critic

On November 20, 2015, Bernier was appointed by the interim Conservative Leader of the Opposition Rona Ambrose as Critic for Economic Development and Innovation.[46]

Leadership

On April 7, 2016, Bernier filed his nomination papers to be a candidate in the Conservative Party of Canada leadership election, which is to be held in May 2017.[49] Bernier explains that the reason why he is running is to explaining his views while being authentic. [50]

Electoral record

2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Maxime Bernier 32,910 58.89 +8.17 –
Liberal Adam Veilleux 12,442 22.26 +11.27 –
New Democratic Daniel Royer 5,443 9.74 -20.26 –
Bloc Québécois Stéphane Trudel 4,144 7.42 +0.75 –
Green Céline Brown MacDonald 943 1.69 +0.08 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 55,882 100.0     $222,691.43
Total rejected ballots 712 1.25 0.02
Turnout 56,594 66.15 +3.13
Eligible voters 85,547
Conservative hold Swing +14.22
Source: Elections Canada[51][52]
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Maxime Bernier 26,799 50.71 -11.70 $80,639.74
New Democratic Serge Bergeron 15,831 29.95 +21.43 $1,165.17
Liberal Claude Morin 5,833 11.04 +0.72 $53,133.79
Bloc Québécois Sylvio Morin 3,535 6.69 -7.29 $19,711.99
Green Etienne Doyon Lessard 852 1.61 -3.16 $2.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 52,850 100.0     $90,992.37
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 681 1.27 -0.30
Turnout 53,531 63.02 +0.64
Eligible voters 84,941
Conservative hold Swing -16.56
Sources:[53][54]
2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Maxime Bernier 31,883 62.41 -4.61 $69,558.01
Bloc Québécois André Côté 7,143 13.98 -5.99 $13,263,15
Liberal René Roy 5,270 10.32 +2.40 $2,129.85
New Democratic Véronique Poulin 4,352 8.52 +5.97 $2,575.32
Green Nicolas Rochette 2,436 4.77 +2.23 none listed
Total valid votes/Expense limit 51,084 100.0     $87,470
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 817 1.57 +0.75
Turnout 51,901 62.38 -5.24
Eligible voters 83,205
Conservative hold Swing +0.69
2006 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Maxime Bernier 36,915 67.02 +49.93 $79,344.54
Bloc Québécois Patrice Moore 10,997 19.97 -16.29 $66,069.90
Liberal Jacques Lussier 4,364 7.92 -33.46 $54,809.07
New Democratic Cléo Chartier 1,405 2.55 -0.50 $1,020.20
Green Jean-Claude Roy 1,397 2.54 +0.31 $108.47
Total valid votes/Expense limit 55,078 100.0     $81,497
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 454 0.82 -1.42
Turnout 55,532 67.62 +8.12
Eligible voters 82,123
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +33.11

References

  1. ^ "The Canadian Parliamentary Guide". P. G. Normandin. January 1, 1996. Retrieved October 31, 2016 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Genealogy Doris Rodrigue". Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  3. ^ "Biography". Maxime Bernier. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  4. ^ "In training with Maxime Bernier". Maclean's. May 14, 2013.
  5. ^ "Maxime Bernier's latest challenge: an ultramarathon". CBC. September 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "Harper targets attainable Quebec ridings". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 17, 2006. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  7. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/maxime-berniers-contemptuous-quebec-speech-stuns-bernard-landry/article4317104/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ "From 'Mad Max' to The Running Man: Tory MP finishes 107-km marathon for local charity". National Post. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  9. ^ "Maxime Bernier: Ottawa should quit intruding on provincial lurisdiction". National Post. October 13, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  10. ^ Taber, Jane (September 10, 2010). "Maxime Bernier breaks ranks on arena funding". Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  11. ^ "Maxime Bernier wants to have an adult conversation". Globe and Mail. October 17, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  12. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/breakfast-with-bernier-1.3931417. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ "Maxime Bernier Preparing Bid For Conservative Party". Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "Maxime Bernier and the politics of ideas". Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  15. ^ "VIDEO: Conservative MP Maxime Bernier wishes Canada had "more freedom" like China". Press Progress.
  16. ^ "Maxime Bernier: China has "less government and more freedom" than Canada". March 29, 2016.
  17. ^ http://ipolitics.ca/2016/04/05/maxime-berniers-china-comments-continue-to-confuse/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ^ Taber, Jane (February 24, 2010). "Maxime Bernier has 'long history' of climate-change denial". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
  19. ^ "Bernier questions climate science". MacLean's. February 24, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  20. ^ "Climate skeptics gathering influence in Tory Senate seats". Edmonton Journal. January 22, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  21. ^ "Une position sage". La Presse. February 22, 2010.
  22. ^ "Press review: my opinion piece on climate change «  Maxime Bernier blog". www.maximebernier.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  23. ^ Stephenson, Dan. "The Shotgun: Maxime Bernier agrees with Harper: "Iraq war was a mistake"". westernstandard.blogs.com. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  24. ^ "Maxime Bernier Maverick Watch - Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  25. ^ http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/former-prime-minister-leading-charge-to-return-nordiques-to-quebec-1.1723541/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ^ http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/reports-of-maxime-berniers-changed-mind-were-greatly-exaggerated/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/maxime-bernier/canada-immigration-policy_b_14053002.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. ^ "More Quebec MPs named to cabinet than expected". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. February 6, 2006. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  29. ^ "CRTC gives thumbs-up to telecom complaints agency". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 22, 2006. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  30. ^ "Conservatives overrule CRTC on regulation of internet phones". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 15, 2006. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  31. ^ "Ottawa accelerates deregulation of local phone service". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 11, 2006. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  32. ^ . Globe and Mail. May 28, 2016 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/letters/just-wondering-about-bernier/article959481/. Retrieved December 27, 2016. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. ^ "Opposition leaders slam Harper's cabinet shuffle". CTV News. August 15, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  34. ^ "Quebecers gain key cabinet roles". Montreal Gazette. August 14, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2012. "Maxime Bernier resigns as foreign affairs minister". CTV. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  35. ^ "Who is Julie Couillard?". Montreal Gazette. May 8, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  36. ^ a b c "Maxime Bernier resigns as foreign affairs minister". CTV News. May 26, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  37. ^ "Harper shrugs off new concerns about minister's ex-flame". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 26, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  38. ^ "Emerson adds high-profile post to other duties". The Vancouver Sun. May 28, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  39. ^ "Foreign Affairs Minister Emerson set to retire: sources". Canadian Broadcasting. September 3, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  40. ^ Bruce Cheadle (September 3, 2009). "Dossier that cost Bernier his job released". The Globe and Mail. CP. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  41. ^ "Bernier hurt Canada's reputation: gov't report". CTV News. August 1, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  42. ^ "Bernier's slip hurt Canada, review says". Toronto Star. CP. August 2, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  43. ^ Template:Cite web =https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/193250/de-mario-dumont-a-maxime-bernier&prev=search
  44. ^ Strombo (February 3, 2012). "FULL INTERVIEW: Maxime Bernier". Retrieved October 31, 2016 – via YouTube.
  45. ^ https://www.thestar.com/opinion/columnists/2008/05/09/sovereignists_signalling_desperation.html
  46. ^ a b "BERNIER, The Hon. Maxime, P.C., B.Comm., LL.B." Parliament of Canada.
  47. ^ "Stephen Harper to step down as leader after Conservative defeat". Canadian Broadcasting. October 19, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  48. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/video-feds-to-cut-red-tape-for-small-business/article1356282/?from=4197491. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  49. ^ "Quebec MP Maxime Bernier officially enters Conservative leadership race - Toronto Star". Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  50. ^ http://globalnews.ca/video/2545105/conservative-mp-maxime-bernier-discusses-ways-party-can-regain-public-trust. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  51. ^ "Voter Information Service - Who are the candidates in my electoral district?". Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  52. ^ "Elections Canada On-line - Élection Canada en-ligne". Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  53. ^ "OVR / ROS". Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  54. ^ "Financial Reports: Candidate's Electoral Campaign Return". Retrieved October 31, 2016.
28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Peter MacKay Minister of Foreign Affairs
2007–2008 		David Emerson
David Emerson Minister of Industry
2006–2007 		Jim Prentice
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
Josée Verner Minister responsible for La Francophonie
2007–2008 		Josée Verner
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