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NOTE: The Toronto Sun has offered column space to all of the major political party leaders to make their pitch to you, the voter. Here is People’s PartyLeader Maxime Bernier’s contribution.

BY MAXIME BERNIER

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Populist sentiment is on the rise in almost every Western country, including Canada.

Populism does not simply express anger at the current government. It’s a symptom of a deeper disconnect.

It’s a reaction from disenfranchised citizens who have lost faith in our institutions’ capacity to reflect their concerns. And who feel that even their right to voice these concerns is being negated by the elites’ disdain and a curtailment of their free speech.

The People’s Party is populist because it proposes solutions to Canada’s problems that radically differ from those of all the establishment parties.

Or course, that doesn’t mean they’re good solutions. You can have a reactionary type of populism with disastrous economic policies. Or smart populism, based on sound policies.