Federal Conservative leadership candidate Maxime Bernier was in Portage la Prairie yesterday for a meet and greet with about 50 local party members.

He outlined his campaign platform, which focuses on Canada, and the economy, first.

"Our policies must be based for the prosperity of our country, and the security of our country," he says, "That's what I want, and that's why I want more freedom. If we have more freedom, we'll have more prosperity. And these are the Conservative values, and the western civilization values. We must be proud of that, and we must speak about it with passion, with conviction, and I'm ready to do it, without any compromise."

Bernier promised if the Tories form government, the first budget with be pro-private sector investment, and the second will be balanced, through federal reforms.

"I will stop corporate welfare, I will use the money to lower taxes to every single entrepreneur in this country. That will be fair, and that will help them to re-invest, because we need investment for having jobs," he continues, "I will privatize Canada Post, I will abolish the CRTC in tele-com, I will privatize the airports, I will open our door to investment. I want CBC-Radio Canada to be more like the PBS model."

Bernier adds connecting with smaller centres like Portage is important.

"But also to answer their questions. I want them to understand the platform, because if I'm the leader of the Conservative Patry of Canada," he stresses, "That would be the platform of our party, and I want them to understand. And if you look at the crowd here, I have have good support, I think. People like the ideas."

Bernier also visited Steinbach, Winkler, and Brandon yesterday.