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But are the alternatives much better? If he decided to start a new national party last month, when some social-media vapourings made in his name caused a little grumbling by other Conservatives, does that make this whole project look less impulsive and arrogant?

Bernier, I have to say, does not seem at all sure about the order in which he wants to go about things

Bernier has always been a bold, articulate advocate of a classical-liberal economic line within the Conservative Party: that’s what has made him a special favourite of audiences in Alberta (which supported him quite strongly in the leadership vote) over the years. But advocacy has been the limit of his activity. When he could have been organizing and developing a pressure group within the CPC, Bernier remained mostly a lone wolf in the Conservative caucus, and that was reflected in the leadership race. Only a half-dozen or so caucus colleagues endorsed Bernier, where winner Andrew Scheer had two dozen friends and third-place finisher Erin O’Toole had more like 30.

Photo by GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images

Bernier proved clearly enough that he is more popular with the CPC rank-and-file than he is amongst the elected members. But declaring total war on the CPC seems like a — how does one put this? — an idiosyncratic response to this discovery.

One reason for using the term “total” in this context is that Bernier says he intends to run a full slate of candidates in the next federal election, which, under the Canada Elections Act, is supposed to take place no more than 13 months from now. (There is some talk that it will be less, although the Liberals may now take the view that Bernier should be given as much time as possible to organize and militate against the CPC.)