Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber has announced he is running to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC).
“Despite the challenges, please have faith in Canadian kindness,” said Baber at his campaign launch on Wednesday. “It’s time to heal, and I invite you to turn a page and join me in uniting this country.”
Baber was introduced by Breakthrough Autism founder Nancy Marchese who said that she has met many politicians over the years, but none of them were like Baber.
“I’m here at my very first political party event because I believe in people, I believe in Canada, and I believe in Roman,” said Marchese.
Baber spoke about how he immigrated to Canada when he was 15 years old and that his family had little money when they arrived. He said that did not matter, however, because Canada gave him every opportunity to succeed.
Many Canadians are worried about Canada’s future, said Baber, and that he is not going to sit back as Canadians lose faith in government.
Lockdowns, he said, were “the greatest policy error of our generation.”
Baber added that he refused to ignore how healthy people were harmed by the measures and that he had spoken out because “people matter before politics.”
Baber was originally elected as a member of the Ontario PCs in 2018, but Premier Doug Ford removed him from caucus on Jan. 15. 2021 over his opposition to the government’s lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions.
Baber said that he will advocate against vaccine passports and vaccine mandates if he is elected as CPC leader. He promised to promote free and open discussion instead of censoring people he disagrees with.
He also said that he would promote job creation, adding that Canadians “don’t want basic income, but to earn an income.”
Baber also said that Canada’s natural resources are a blessing and that if elected leader, he would not allow oil and gas projects to be cancelled.
Baber said the CPC needs to reach out to disillusioned conservatives, young people and those living in urban centres. The Conservatives have “to articulate a reasonable and practical stance rooted in kindness,” he said.
“Change is coming. We’re going to disrupt politics and change the way politics is done, so we can reignite and unite the Conservative Party and so we can win and unite our wonderful country.”
Prior to his announcement on Wednesday, Baber had said he was running to create change.
“I am grateful to Canadians who stood with me for the last 15 months,” he said in a tweet. “You can always count on me to say what I believe & do what I believe to be right.”
So far, the candidates for the Conservative leadership race are Baber, CPC MPs Pierre Poilievre and Leslyn Lewis and former Quebec Liberal premier Jean Charest.
Brampton mayor Patrick Brown is also expected to enter the race, while CPC MP Scott Aitchison and former CPC MP Leona Alleslev are said to be considering.
The next Conservative leader will be elected on Sept. 10.
