VANCOUVER—Maxime Bernier’s newly minted “smart populist” party may be crumbling in British Columbia amid allegations of racism, xenophobia and an infiltration of the radical far-right.

Through numerous interviews with current and former members, the Star has learned of an exodus of original People’s Party of Canada (PPC) provincial organizers and followers. They suggest original party faithful are disillusioned and leaving by the dozen. An online petition by PPC members is also calling for the removal of the party’s national co-ordinator.

Two former co-ordinators — Daniel Joseph and Angelo Isidorou — have publicly resigned online.

“I can’t stand idly by and be associated with a party that fosters these kinds of people,” Isidorou told Star Vancouver on Monday. “The party that existed just a few months ago is not the same party now.”

Isidorou, 22, was the Electoral District Association (EDA) president for Vancouver-Quadra and the temporary campaign manager for the PPC’s unsuccessful candidate in February’s Burnaby South byelection. He also serves as director of UBC’s Free Speech Club, which has faced visceral public outrage for bringing in controversial speakers that critics have called white nationalists.

Isidorou announced his resignation from the party in a March 29 online post, writing the PPC is an “utter free-for-all” and has been “hijacked by egomaniacs.”

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The party will not comment on any of the allegations. Bernier did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Isidorou left the Conservative Party of Canada and joined the PPC after its inception last year, enamoured with Bernier’s fiscally conservative principles. Now, he is considering rejoining the Conservatives.

Quebec MP Bernier launched the PPC after a messy split with the Conservative Party last year, following his loss in its leadership race. Since announcing the party, a Star investigation found that Bernier has been fending off the far-right movement in Canada, which hopes to bring its message into the mainstream.

Bernier has promised to run candidates in all 338 federal ridings. By December, Isidorou said members had done the groundwork to set up EDAs in all 42 B.C. ridings. EDAs must register with Elections Canada to perform financial tasks such as accepting campaign contributions or transferring funds. Members make up a board and, at times, can be responsible for candidate selection.

But problems began in late February, when the executive board of the PPC changed over and several organizers were told they would no longer be in their positions. Then, headquarters allegedly “went silent” after these co-ordinators expressed their concerns, Isidorou explained.

Glen Walushka was appointed B.C.’s regional co-ordinator — a move up from his position as EDA president of North Okanagan-Shuswap — while Johanne Mennie, a former volunteer, became the party’s executive director. Mennie is also now the director of national communications for the party.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Walushka and Mennie after Monday, they did not respond: The reasons for the executive changeover are unclear.

Laura-Lynn Thompson, an anti-abortion advocate, was the PPC candidate in February’s Burnaby South byelection. She faced criticism for her comments on refugees and immigration but gained roughly 11 per cent of the vote.

Thompson told the Star that it became “quite clear” early on that Isidorou didn’t have the experience to do the job, adding there was no validity to either his or Joseph’s claims.

Asked why Bernier and headquarters would not comment, Thompson said the party leader is “up to his eyeballs in a national news crisis” and that none of the allegations can be substantiated.

“This is their way to get 10 seconds worth after not being put forward the way they wanted to in the party because there’s issues,” she said. “What’s really going on is that we are organizing and preparing for the election.”

Since early March, Isidorou claimed, the party headquarters has been “radio silent.” According to him, Mennie appointed a new national co-ordinator named Caleb Voskamp. The Star attempted to reach Voskamp multiple times but he did not respond.

Three weeks ago, an online petition was launched by PPC members — who claim to be established EDA members, financial contributors and “sweat equity volunteers” from across Canada — addressed to Bernier. They are calling for Voskamp’s removal, alleging he is undermining “the core values” of the PPC.

It says the party has annulled at least 12 EDAs in B.C. without reason. The Star was unable to verify how many have shut down.

“Our faith in the party is dwindling, and we are prepared to withdraw any and all support if this clear message falls on deaf ears,” it reads.

The petition had 59 signatures as of Thursday morning.

On the same day Isidorou posted online, Joseph, EDA president for Kelowna-Lake Country, announced his resignation via a Facebook video, claiming the party has taken on “hateful overtones.” The video currently has more than 12,000 views.

In it, Joseph said he joined the party because Bernier wanted to do politics differently. However, he continued, it was with a “heavy heart” he wanted to call out racist, homophobic, xenophobic and “hateful influences” within the party.

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“Racists and bigots that spew hatred and play divisive, political games to tear this party up from the inside out need to be called out,” he said. “Max Bernier, you talk about strong leadership. It’s time to get your ship in shape before the election.”

In the video, Joseph named Walushka as part of the hateful contingent within the PPC. The Star reached out to him on Monday.

Walushka initially responded via email saying the allegations were baseless, inaccurate, without merit and the “lowest form of political subterfuge.” He promised further comments by end of day but has not responded since.

The next day, Mennie said the party would not comment. A Twitter account attached to Mennie’s name was active on Monday but deleted by Tuesday morning.

Walushka helped found Alberta’s fledgling Wildrose party before moving back to B.C. in 2011. He is a former BC Conservative, a party not officially affiliated with the federal Conservatives — which has moved to the fringe, commanding an average of only 2.5 per cent of the vote over the last three elections. Mennie is a former civil servant.

Two days after his original post, Joseph shared additional comments online. He claimed Walushka’s promotion was the final straw.

“The message from party officials was clear — they were going to embrace this hateful far-right rhetoric — and I felt like not only was there no longer a place for me in the party but that Canadian politics doesn’t need a party that strays so far from our democratic institutions,” Joseph wrote.

Shannon Kewley was the PPC’s provincial co-ordinator, who was appointed in September. Her job was to set up the 42 EDAs as well as work on candidate selection. Kewley said using social media — specifically Facebook — made the job “fairly easy.”

But in January, after the executive director position was vacated, Kewley said she knew “something was wrong.” She has since criticized the party for its lack of transparency and decision not to create a national executive body or constitution — which are standard among political parties.

Though it’s expected roles may change as a party grows, Kewley questioned why Bernier and headquarters have remained silent. She eventually stepped down in late February and told the Star members are owed an answer.

“All of our threads are just why, why, why? Nobody knows,” she said. “The members are getting no information in any form across the country and they’re getting angry … It’s some of the people’s party now, not the People’s Party.”

There’s been a variety of reactions from members from vastly different political leanings, she explained. Some don’t know who they will vote for, some will hang on and others have turned into “warriors for Scheer” because they’re so upset.

Jacob Burdge, 18, started as the PPC Vancouver Island regional organizer in late September. He was responsible for setting up the seven EDAs on the island as well as holding Bernier rallies in Nanaimo, Victoria and Courtenay. Burdge told the Star he was “happy to do it” because everyone “believed in the cause.”

While he acknowledged there were extreme racist elements in the party early on, Burdge said it was swiftly “dealt with” and would not comment on the new team.

In early March, Burdge said, an email sent to other members stated he had been replaced. Burdge said he was never sent the email and immediately called Bernier but received no answer.

“I didn’t receive any real explanation from the party for any of this,” he said, noting all over the country organizers have been kicked out or resigned. “It’s not a very transparent party.”

Burdge said the lack of transparency, constitution and national executive, combined with the manner in which headquarters has rid itself of organizers without prior warning, has left him disheartened.

“I don’t think this party is a viable option anymore,” he said. “I’m very proud to be joining the Conservative party. I believe they are a viable option to beat Justin Trudeau.”

Correction — April 5, 2019: This article was edited from a previous version that said BC Conservative party is affiliated with the federal Conservatives. In fact, it is not officially affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada.

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