Again, there will be a transition as the federal government eliminates the program, he said. To assist farmers, the federal government will “buy back the quota.”

Bernier also will eliminate about $17 billion in “corporate welfare” that businesses receive. He would use about $10 billion of the savings to reduce the capital gains tax, and cut corporate taxes from the current 15 per cent to about 10 per cent.

In addition, he will cut personal income taxes, simplifying the tax system by establishing two tax brackets rather than five and increase the personal exemption from $11,000 to $15,000, which would result in about 1.2 million Canadians not “having to pay any income taxes at the federal level.”

“So it’s a fair policy for everybody,” said Bernier.

His free-market policies extend to privatizing Canada’s 26 major airports, easing foreign ownership restrictions on airlines from the current 29 per cent to about 45 per cent, de-regulate the telecommunications industry, and privatize Canada Post.

He is also a supporter of building more pipelines to carry gas and oil rather than using rail. He points to what happened in 2013 in his home province of Lac Magantic where 47 people died and at least 30 buildings destroyed when a run-away train derailed in the town.

“In 2016 you can build a pipeline that will be safe for the environment,” he said.

Bernier, who was first elected in 2006, is attempting to stand out from what is becoming a crowded leadership field. He has taken issue with his opponent Simcoe-Grey Conservative MP Kellie Leitch’s proposal to “screen” prospective immigrants for Canadian values.

Bernier says there are Canadian values, but Leitch’s idea “won’t solve anything.

“We are doing the screening on the immigrants who want to become Canadian citizens. I don’t think it will work at all.”

But Bernier says Canada should halt its immigrant levels. He said the country should only allow immigrants that have a high income level and for family reunification.

“We have to integrate them into our system and society,” he said. “The Liberals are proposing to double the immigrant rate next year.”

Bernier promises to be a different Conservative leader than Stephen Harper. He will be more “open and transparent” than Harper’s government, allow for free votes on any subject they want including abortion.

“I believe in democracy,” he said. “I will have a different style than the previous government.”

The Hamilton Macdonald-Cartier Club will be hosting as many Conservative leadership contestants as possible up to the May 27 vote. Bernier will be taking part in the first leadership debate Nov. 17 in Saskatoon. There are expected to be five debates in total.

The next breakfast meeting at Carmen’s the club will have Michael Chong, MP for Wellington-Halton Hills. On Dec. 8 Andrew Scheer, the former speaker of the House of Commons has been scheduled.

Other leadership contenders include Brad Trost of Saskatchewan, MP Erin O’Toole, former MP Chris Alexander, Deepack Obhrai of Alberta, B.C businessman and former MP Andrew Saxton and Alberta businessman Rick Peterson. Also considering jumping into the race is MP Lisa Raitt.