LILLEY: Conservative leader Candice Bergen says it’s time for life beyond politics

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As the Conservative Party gets set to pick a new leader this weekend, the current interim leader says it’s time to look to a life beyond politics. Candice Bergen is set to announce that she is leaving public life and won’t stand in the next election.

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In an exclusive interview with the Sun, Bergen wanted to make one thing clear, she’s not leaving over whomever is chosen as the next leader, she will support them, it’s just time.

“Serving the constituents of Portage—Lisgar for fourteen years has been the honour of my political life,” Bergen’s official statement reads.

In a wide-ranging conversation on her time in politics, she comes back to the idea of representing and listening to the people, the constituents, time and again. She’s proud of the work she’s done as an MP and as leader of the Conservative Party over the last seven months but wants to clear the deck and the air for the new leader.

From local volunteer to MP and leader

Bergen got involved in politics as a volunteer when her kids were young. She had grown frustrated with the direction of the country and began volunteering for the Canadian Alliance under Stockwell Day after hearing her mother’s constant refrain in her head.

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“I could hear my mother’s voice saying if you don’t do something you can’t complain,” Bergen said.

What began as a volunteer position turned into a full-time job in Ottawa as she was elected in 2008 after MP Brian Pallister stepped down. Thus began an exciting but tumultuous 14-year career with plenty of highs and lows.

“The worst day in government is better than the best day in opposition,” Bergen said with a laugh before detailing some of the fun and successes she’s had on both sides of the House.

Career has had many highlights

One of her highlights on the government side was passing Bill S-2 in 2013. The bill granted women on reserves matrimonial property rights, something even more important to Bergen now as she watches her Indigenous granddaughter grow up.

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“I’m still very happy that we passed real matrimonial rights for Indigenous women,” Bergen said.

The piece of legislation she’s most famous for putting forward is Bill C-391, a private members bill to end the long gun registry. It initially received support from Liberal and New Democrat MPs who later switched their votes to kill the bill. In 2011, after the Harper Conservatives won a majority, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and charged with shepherding Bill C-19, the government bill to end the long gun registry through Parliament.

A real low point for Bergen was obviously the defeat of the Harper government in 2015.

Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, meets with mothers and their children at a childcare centre in Winnipeg, March 6, 2015. Photo by Kevin King /Winnipeg Sun

“So many friends, so many good MPs losing their seats and Stephen Harper was such a great prime minister,” she said.

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Article content Politics impacted her family life

When she was first elected, her three kids ranged in age from 12 to 20 and while she will admit to missing too many birthdays or important life events due to work in Ottawa, Bergen said her kids benefitted as well. She noted that with any job there are tradeoffs, but she wouldn’t change her course.

“I’ve been very privileged to do this job and my kids’ lives are richer as a result of it,” she said.

Bergen said that she would also continue to encourage young people, both women and men, to enter political life despite what many call an increased toxicity. While Bergen denounced what happened recently to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, she said that’s not new in politics.

She described working at a rally in Winnipeg in the early 2000s for Stephen Harper before he was prime minister. A large man kept taunting her with his anti-Harper sign while screaming “F**k you b**ch!” over and over again.

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“It is horrible, but this is about horrible individuals, most Canadians aren’t like that,” she said of her experience and that of Freeland’s.

During her time as leader, Bergen was a force to be reckoned with during Question Period but said she wishes she could have gotten answers to the questions she and her team put forward on behalf of the Canadian people.

“The Canadian public have had enough of not answering questions and just reading talking points,” Bergen said.

Bergen said that she will stay on as an MP for now, whether she sticks around until the next election will depend on timing. As for what comes after politics, she’s not sure but is looking forward to next chapter in the adventure that is her life.

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