At Bernier’s campaign events, protests are not uncommon, as his detractors label him a racist and insinuate he is a Nazi sympathizer. In his defense, Bernier claims that these protests have arisen as a result of “breaking taboos about immigration and multiculturalism,” and insists that Canadians appreciate his frank and clear way of speaking. His political opponents have attempted to cancel his speeches on college campuses, without success, under the accusation that he promotes hate speech, and his supporters have been known to send death threats and hate messages towards minorities who are perceived to threaten his political campaign. Bernier, however, adamantly insists he is not a racist, and instead portrays himself as a “free market populist” and the victim of rampant political correctness in the country, which prevents Canadians from articulating how they really feel about a whole range of issues.

Though far-right politics has as-of-yet failed to gather steam in Canada, experts suggest that Bernier’s appeal to nationalism and emotions is likely to influence the national political conversation, as the country’s Conservative Party has moved to the right on issues of immigration. As Liberals and Conservatives are fairly evenly matched in the polls in advance of the country’s October 21st election, Bernier poses a threat to the Conservative party by splitting the vote. That being said, some, including the deputy director at the Center for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence, fear that politicians like Bernier give an air of legitimacy to the voices of the extreme right in Canada. While Bernier doesn’t himself advocate for racism and violence, his policy proposals, including a test to ensure that immigrants adhere to Canadian values, may align with a more dangerous ideology, some argue.