Ken Finlayson (r) with PPC Leader Maxime Bernier (Image Credit: Facebook / Ken Finlayson)

By James Peters CFJC Today

Federal election 2019

People’s Party taps Lac La Hache rancher to run in Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo

Jun 7, 2019 | 11:03 AM

KAMLOOPS — The People’s Party of Canada (PPC) has its Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo candidate in place for the October election.

Lac La Hache rancher Ken Finlayson will carry the banner for Maxime Bernier’s fledgling party.

Finlayson moved to B.C. from Saskatchewan last year and calls his political interest “a chronic condition”.

“A year ago on March 4, I took on a job looking after a small ranch up here in Lac La Hache, B.C. I sort of thought I’d be semi-retired, but for me, interest in politics is sort of a chronic condition that some of us suffer from. So here I am,” Finlayson told CFJC Today.

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Finlayson grew up in North Battleford and ran as an independent in a 2017 federal byelection in the Battlefords-Lloydminster riding, finishing fourth.

He says he was drawn to Bernier’s PPC because of its commitment to freedom of speech and conservative views on government.

“I like Max Bernier’s principles. I don’t like his postal code, but I’m willing to swallow that,” he said. “After meeting the man, I believe he’s sincere. He’s not a politically correct sort of guy; he allows free speech within his party.”

“We just had Andrew Scheer yesterday kick an MP off the justice committee for saying something that a lot of people think is just a flat fact,” Finlayson added, referring to Michael Cooper, who Scheer removed from the committee after Cooper told a Muslim witness he should “be ashamed” for linking the Quebec City mosque shooter’s online history to conservative commentators.

“If people think something’s an issue in Canada, in the People’s Party – unlike the other ones – you don’t get muzzled,” said Finlayson. “We think that’s what democracy and freedom of speech is all about.”

In a Facebook post touting his candidacy, Finlayson aligns himself with Western Canadian separatist principles, saying Western Canada has “been pushed into it by the eastern power base which is set up so we can never have an effective voice in Parliament.”

At the same time, Finlayson says Bernier understands politicians should speak to what brings Canadians together, rather than divisions.

“I’m a Canadian. I think, like Max does, we should emphasize the things that make us Canadian. We should emphasize the things that bring us unity. We don’t think we should emphasize the things that divide us.”

Finlayson says those who have strong beliefs and principles should become active, rather than sitting on the sidelines.

“I’ve always been interested in politics. Sometimes that makes me shake my head,” he said.

“But an old aunt of mine, Aunt Edna, always shook her finger at me and sad, ‘Ken, if you’re not willing to get involved in politics, you’re doomed to be governed by them that are.’ When I think about that and see Justin Trudeau’s face on my internet, I want to get involved in politics.”

Finlayson joins Conservative incumbent Cathy McLeod, Liberal Terry Lake and New Democrat Gina Myhill-Jones as confirmed candidates in Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo. The Green Party projects it will have its candidate selected before the end of June.