CPC leadership candidate recognizes his political realities, wants inquiry into COVID-19 pandemic

A backbench member of Parliament who entered the Conservative management race on a promise to set off an inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic says he’s conscious of the “political realities” he faces.

Marc Dalton, a two-term consultant from British Columbia who’s Metis and speaks French, says he entered the competition as a result of he felt prefer it was what he wanted to do.

“I don’t have $300,000 lined up proper now,” he stated, referring to charges the celebration says candidates should pay to enter.

“That may come. I’m hopeful that it’s going to come.”

Earlier than turning into an MP, Dalton was a Liberal MLA in B.C. He says he’s a political risk-taker and that even placing your title ahead “takes guts.”

“It’s not essentially the front-runner that wins,” he stated of the preferential poll system, which the celebration makes use of to pick its leaders.

“It’s the second and third decisions.”

Dalton introduced his candidacy in a brief video posted to social media the place he appeared in entrance of a picture of the Home of Commons chamber as a backdrop.

He’s the fourth MP to enter the race, after Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis and Scott Aitchison.

In his launch video, Dalton — who’s operating on the tag line of “A greater Canada. Collectively” — guarantees to set off a nationwide inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic to take a look at spending and what he referred to as “coercive” measures the federal government used to get individuals vaccinated.

He additionally says the probe would take a look at what authorities knew about what he known as vaccine accidents.

Well being specialists from around the globe say vaccines in opposition to the novel coronavirus are protected and the simplest software at stopping hospitalization.

Well being Canada says opposed side-effects can happen, however are uncommon. It usually publishes information on the problem and says that of the greater than 81 million doses administered to this point, there have been round 8,600 reviews of side-effects that may be thought of critical.

Dalton says considerations about opposed reactions have been delivered to his consideration by individuals locally and {that a} member of the family had a foul expertise.

Dalton says he skilled side-effects, together with problem strolling, after his first dose. He obtained his second dose however selected to not get a booster.

“I’ve had sufficient penalties,” he stated.

The MP says he isn’t against vaccination and doesn’t wish to promote vaccine hesitancy. He says autoimmune points run in his household and he had considerations about getting vaccinated, so consulted together with his physician, who really helpful he get the shot.

The COVID-19 pandemic options closely within the campaigns of different candidates. Poilievre has championed that every one COVID-19 mandates ought to finish. That has additionally been referred to as for by Lewis and Impartial Ontario MPP Roman Baber, who’s operating after Ontario Premier Doug Ford booted him from caucus for talking out in opposition to lockdowns.

Requested what made his message on the pandemic completely different from different candidates, Dalton stated he didn’t know, however identified he’s the one MP to have spoken about vaccine accidents.

“I didn’t actually take a look at what everybody else stated — I simply stated what I felt was vital.”