Rise in People's Party support 'very concerning' even if its future is uncertain, expert says

The People's Party of Canada saw at least twice as much support in Hamilton-area ridings this federal election than it did in the last one in 2019, but political experts say while that backing is likely temporary, it's still concerning.

Candidates of Maxime Bernier's party got anywhere between 4 and 11 per cent of the local vote, tallied results show. The party has, at last count, captured 5.1 per cent of the national vote, for a total of 814,547 votes. In 2019, the PPC got just 1.6 per cent of the national vote, for a total of 292,661.

Clifton van der Linden, an assistant professor of political science at Hamilton's McMaster University and founder of Vox Pop Labs (the makers of Vote Compass), previously said the party was out to prove its legitimacy this election and to prove it deserved a spot at the next electoral debate.

The Leaders' Debates Commission said this year, parties needed to have an MP in the House of Commons, at least four per cent of the vote, or must receive at least four per cent of national support in public opinion polling five days after the election is called.

The PPC's level of national support in two years ago was 3.27 per cent, according to the commission.

Lydia Miljan, a University of Windsor political science professor, told CBC Hamilton the PPC has found the "protest vote" from people upset with COVID-19 vaccine mandates and lockdowns.

"The People's Party was the only party that allowed them to voice that frustration and anger, so it tells us about five per cent of the populous is really angry about all these restrictions and new measures to encourage people to get vaccinated and follow all health guidelines," she said.