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Accountability Job 1 at Industry Canada, new minister says: Kellogg, Alan . Edmonton Journal ; Edmonton, Alta. [Edmonton, Alta]. 25 May 2006: A3. ProQuest document link ABSTRACT (ABSTRACT) If the latter declaration easily qualifies as standard political boilerplate, [Bernier], 43 this year, is likely more serious than most on the subject. Famously libertarian, he served as executive vice- president of the increasingly influential Montreal Economic Institute think-tank, that national incubator of the small- government-is-good- government ideal. Having said that, Bernier is quick to add that he doesn't see his place as one of the Harper cabinet's resident ideologues. A lawyer with a commerce degree, he's proud of his direct business credentials, which included a stint as vice-president of Standard Life of Canada. And politics is clearly in the genes, as he now represents the same Beauce riding his father Gilles served as MP from 1984-1997. "It's no accident that this is the first (western) place I've visited since becoming minister. People (in Alberta) are a lot like people in the Beauce. We are both very entrepreneurial, independent- minded, used to doing things for ourselves. Individual and economic freedom are important. Even though the economies are different, there are similarities. We're big free-traders in the Beauce -- 65 per cent of what we produce is exported. And we're having challenges with labour shortages, too. When it comes to more (government) intervention or less, we both choose less. FULL TEXT Maxime Bernier believes in the libertarian adage that small government is good government, but Conservative commitments come first Early Wednesday morning finds Maxime Bernier resplendent in a crisp summer suit, sipping O.J. in a downtown hotel lobby. A nasty spring cold has set in and Canada's newly minted Minister of Industry isn't about to rely solely on the restorative powers of vitamin C. Science, technology and unfettered free enterprise has a better idea -- with the sort of local hook federal politicians dote on. Bernier has just popped his first three Cold-fx's, made and researched right here in River City. "I'm ready to believe," he offers with a grin. Indeed, it was the science and tech component of his portfolio that brought the fledgling MP to town, where he attended a roundtable of local lights and met several provincial cabinet ministers. PDF GENERATED BY PROQUEST.COM Page 1 of 4 "It's all part of (fashioning) a science and technology strategy, of finding new ideas. This is a very prosperous place, and we can all learn from that. I'm here to listen, and it's been a pleasure. A review is very important, because we must be very careful how we spend the taxpayers' money, make sure it's well invested." If the latter declaration easily qualifies as standard political boilerplate, Bernier, 43 this year, is likely more serious than most on the subject. Famously libertarian, he served as executive vice- president of the increasingly influential Montreal Economic Institute think-tank, that national incubator of the small- government-is-good- government ideal. "Being (libertarian) to me (means) simply that I believe in people, in individual freedom. In business, that means less state intervention, that problems are solved by people, not by big government. It makes for good debates." Having said that, Bernier is quick to add that he doesn't see his place as one of the Harper cabinet's resident ideologues. A lawyer with a commerce degree, he's proud of his direct business credentials, which included a stint as vice-president of Standard Life of Canada. And politics is clearly in the genes, as he now represents the same Beauce riding his father Gilles served as MP from 1984-1997. "I live in the real world, and I'm in politics. I'm not in cabinet to promote libertarian ideas, but to help live up to our commitments. You have to be pragmatic." He's visited Edmonton twice before during his tenure at Standard Life, and says he feels very much at home here. For one thing, he's in constant contact with Edmonton-Leduc MP James Rajotte, the former Tory industry critic who chairs the House of Commons industry committee. "James is great -- we work very well together." "It's no accident that this is the first (western) place I've visited since becoming minister. People (in Alberta) are a lot like people in the Beauce. We are both very entrepreneurial, independent- minded, used to doing things for ourselves. Individual and economic freedom are important. Even though the economies are different, there are similarities. We're big free-traders in the Beauce -- 65 per cent of what we produce is exported. And we're having challenges with labour shortages, too. When it comes to more (government) intervention or less, we both choose less. "We're not afraid of standing alone if we have to. Remember, the Beauce is proudly federalist." The morning news has it that interest rates are up a quarter point, and already some are pointing to it as a sign of potential trouble. Bernier is unfazed. "The dollar is strong, or at least the U.S. dollar is weak. But this is an open country, and it's important to remember that we don't control things. This government believes in entrepreneurs, in their ability to be efficient and productive. "Our job, our biggest challenge, is to lower taxes, to keep money in people's pockets. We did that in the budget and will continue doing that." When it comes to the Harper team's five vaunted promises, the minister says accountability is Job One at Industry. "Thirteen days after (the election) we began publishing data, releasing information which was never done before. Everything is on the table. This is a priority, the top priority. Look -- it's not our money, it's the taxpayers' money." PDF GENERATED BY PROQUEST.COM Page 2 of 4 First-time candidate Bernier swamped the competition in the last election, winning an incredible 67 per cent of the vote, the biggest romp outside the Alberta monolith. And he says ministerial responsibilities won't keep him away from his constituents -- or his daughters, for that matter, who attend a private English school in Montreal. "You have to maintain that balance. I keep my family out of politics, that is where I draw the line. Back in the Beauce, we've started having several meetings a month, and after that, I go door- knocking. That is how you really find out what is going on. That is why I told Mr. Harper on Jan. 3 that we would win the last election and were moving toward a majority. You can feel it." And what is he hearing? "They are impressed that we are actually doing what we promised, step by step. That is very unusual in Quebec. I'm not making any predictions. But if we keep up with our plan, it is looking very good for us. The more people get to know Mr. Harper, the more they like him. The opposition is very weak, as we've seen. So I think we might be very pleased." [email protected] Illustration Photo: Ottawa Citizen ; CanWest News Service / MAXIME BERNIER: "Our job, our biggest challenge, is to lower taxes, to keep money in people's pockets." ; DETAILS Publication title: Edmonton Journal; Edmonton, Alta. Pages: A3 Number of pages: 0 Publication year: 2006 Publication date: May 25, 2006 column: Alan Kellogg Section: News Publisher: Postmedia Network Inc. Place of publication: Edmonton, Alta. Country of publication: Canada, Edmonton, Alta. Publication subject: Business And Economics--Banking And Finance Source type: Newspaper PDF GENERATED BY PROQUEST.COM Page 3 of 4 Language of publication: English Document type: Business, Column ProQuest document ID: 253358398 Document URL: https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/accountability-job-1-at-industry-canada- new/docview/253358398/se-2?accountid=5705 Copyright: (Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006) Last updated: 2017-11-07 Database: Canadian Newsstream LINKS Database copyright  2021 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions Contact ProQuest PDF GENERATED BY PROQUEST.COM Page 4 of 4