The leader of the People’s Party of Canada is increasingly embracing wild, far-right conspiracy theories

Maxime Bernier says the destruction of Canada could be one consequence of a hypothetical “future world government.”

Bernier, leader of the far-right People’s Party of Canada and a sitting member of the Canadian Parliament, issued tweets Monday evening warning that “prominent” Canadians are trying to “set up a world government” run by the United Nations.

The People’s Party leader also questioned the “loyalty” of the Prime Minister of Canada. He pointed to the fact Canada provides foreign aid to impoverished countries as evidence Justin Trudeau may instead be “loyal to a future world government that will destroy Canada.”

Bernier’s declaration was typed entirely in caps lock.

1/ Paris Climate Accord, Global Compact for Migrations: Many policies that threaten our prosperity and sovereignty derive from UN international treaties. Some people—including prominent ones in Canada…—want to go even further and set up a World Government. — Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) January 9, 2019

6/ Trudeau has said we are a post-national country, and spends $M to get a UN Security Council seat and $B in aid in other countries. IS HE LOYAL TO CANADA OR LOYAL TO A FUTURE WORLD GOVERNMENT THAT WILL DESTROY CANADA?https://t.co/0A6nv7sv7R — Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) January 9, 2019

Conspiracy theories revolving around a one-world government led by the United Nations are a common trope among far-right online communities, usually making reference to the “Bilderberg group” or a so-called “New World Order.”

Bernier’s talk of a “future world government” echoes conspiracies popularized by the likes of the John Birch Society or Infowars’ Alex Jones. Those trace their origins to older narratives about “cultural Marxism,” which imagine a secret “communist” or “Jewish plot to rule the world.”

Bernier’s office did not respond to a request for comment from PressProgress.

If the People’s Party leader sounds more and more like a character out of the X-Files, it does appear to reflect a growing pattern:

• In September, Bernier made a special appearance on “Press for Truth,” a website known for pushing 9/11 conspiracy theories – during the interview, Bernier was questioned about whether he would attend the Bilderberg Conference.

• In October, a gas canister was set on fire in a Toronto-area hotel that was housing refugees. Before the attack, the hotel was featured in conspiratorial videos filmed by far-right YouTubers, including an avowed white nationalist and supporters of Bernier’s People’s Party.

• In December, Bernier was announced as a speaker at an anti-refugee rally on Parliament Hill organized by far-right hate groups and attended by a contingent of followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory (without explanation, Bernier backed out of the event at the last minute).