In 2019, Bernier participated in the national leaders’ debate. But by 2021, despite increased support and rising public interest, he was excluded under newly revised criteria. As Bernier rightly stated, the system was rigged to silence inconvenient voices. This isn’t just about him. It’s about a growing segment of Canadians who are being told their views are unacceptable and therefore unworthy of national attention.

Most recently, Meghan Murphy — a critic of radical gender ideology and now a PPC candidate in Vancouver East—reported that her bank account was frozen the same day her nomination became official. Such a chilling incident raises urgent questions about financial deplatforming and whether political dissent in Canada now comes with institutional penalties.

Unlike Pierre Poilievre or Mark Carney, Bernier does not pretend to oppose globalism while endorsing its tools. Bernier opposes retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, recognizing that such measures often hurt Canadian consumers more than Americans — a position the media considers unthinkable. Meanwhile, Carney continues to enjoy fawning media coverage despite advocating policies that stifle Western Canada’s energy potential and support top-down digital controls.

The Western Standard has been one of the few platforms willing to explore perspectives the mainstream refuses to touch. As we approach the April 28 snap election, Canadians must demand better. They must insist on hearing the voices of those who oppose centralization, censorship, and ideological conformity.

If we care about honest politics, the suppression of Bernier and the PPC should trouble every Canadian — not because you must agree with him, but because in a real democracy, you are at least allowed to hear him.