Dominic Cardy has realistic expectations of 'low-key, little party' he leads
Startup party knows it has little chance this federal election, but it has a 'big message'
Even with just a dozen chairs set out in a Fredericton hall, only half them were filled Monday night when Dominic Cardy, leader of the Canadian Future Party, launched his campaign for election to Parliament.
But for Cardy, that was all right.
The Canadian Future Party, billed as a centrist alternative when it was created last summer, is a "low-key, little party, but with a big message," he said.
"I'm standing here saying my party is not competing for government," said Cardy, who is running in Fredericton-Oromocto. "We are competing to have our ideas stolen by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party.
"We're here for the long haul."
Cardy said his party is only running about 20 candidates across Canada because of the challenges of organizing after a snap election call.
His speech focused mainly on U.S. threats about annexing Canada and on what he sees as threats to democracy if Russia and China become more dominant powers.
Cardy said he would increase military spending to five per cent of the country's budget to match NATO allies.
The party will release its full platform later in the week week, but defence will remain Cardy's key issue.
"And right now there is no subject that Canadian politicians should be talking about other than what we do to prepare our country for the crisis that is upon us, and we are already long delayed in responding to," he said.
The new party's slim chances of winning give him the power to be more honest about issues facing Canada than the major party leaders are, Cardy said, referring to Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
"Mr. Carney, Mr. Poilievre, be honest with Canadians about the threat that faces us: a world sliding rapidly toward war," he said.
"Because Canada has a bright future if we want it. We can be the northern democratic superpower. We can be the arsenal for democracy."
Cardy is a familiar name in New Brunswick after a long career in New Brunswick politics.
He was the leader for the New Brunswick NDP in 2014 and helped deliver their biggest vote-share, but failed to win any seats.
He resigned as leader in 2017 and moved to the Progressive Conservative Party, where he was elected as Fredericton-Hanwell MLA and served in Blaine Higgs's cabinet. But in a fiery letter critical of the premier's leadership style, he resigned in 2022 and served as an Independent until 2024.
Tim Andrew was among those who turned out Monday to hear what Cardy had to say.
"He's always struck me as someone who is independent, prepared to say what he thinks is important," Andrew said. "And I'd like to hear that."
When asked about Cardy's acceptance that he won't win when votes are counted April 28, Andrew said he understood.
"You could say he's a realist. I mean, to generate a new party from scratch? It doesn't happen overnight."
In Fredericton-Oromocto, Cardy is up against Conservative Brian MacDonald and Liberal David Myles.
He also faces the NDP's Nicki Lyons-Macfarlane, the Green Party's Pam Allen-LeBlanc, Heather Michaud of the People's Party and June Patterson of the Communist Party.
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