List of Candidates running for the Peoples Party of Canada with military connections

Darren Villetard

Darren Villetard is the PPC candidate for the Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan federal riding.

Villetard is currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Reservist and has been awarded the Canadian Declaration Medal as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Through this role, Villetard says he has developed extensive leadership, conflict management, and strategic executive experience.

In his civilian careers, Villetard says he’s gained additional valuable experience in his private sector management roles and through working in the unionized, public sector.

Growing up on the “Villetard’s Eggs” farm, Villetard has first-hand experience and a strong motivation towards the party’s signature platform piece – ending supply management to make dairy, poultry, and eggs more affordable for Canadians.

He is a strong advocate for rural rights and vibrant communities in Alberta.

Villetard is looking forward to being a strong representative of the communities of the riding of Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan in the People’s Party of Canada.

Both Villetard and his wife have lived, worked, and volunteered extensively in the communities of Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, and Ardrossan for many years.

Paul Durst

Former CAF Member Paul Durst is running for PPC in Ottawa-Vanier.

Paul Durst, a former military member, Durst, served as an infanteer.

He was an officer in The Royal Canadian Regiment and held command and staff positions.

Durst served in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down and in the NATO Implementation Force to enforce the Dayton Peace Accord in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Durst retired as a major 15 years ago.

Since then, he’s worked as a public servant in Ottawa.

Durst says, “If you had asked me a few years ago if I would ever run for office, I would have laughed at the question.”

Durst changed his mind when he saw the PPC’s platform.

“When I first read it, I realized it contains a lot of the things I’ve been fighting for my whole life – not just as a CAF member, but as a Canadian and also as a dad.”

Durst says that his motivation for running for political office is the same motivation that drove him to join the Forces: service.

“When I was a boy watching the terrorist attack on the Israeli Olympic athletes and news from the war in Vietnam, I felt that I had a duty to serve my country and make the world a better, more secure place. That’s what an officer should want to do, and in my opinion, it’s a pretty good motivation for a politician too.”

Durst feels being a member of the Forces has prepared him to be a strong candidate.

“As an officer, you learn about trust. The people you’re leading need to be willing to follow you, and they need to know that you will lead them with integrity. A lot of politicians seem to think that voters should trust their promises, but I say that actions speak louder than words. I’ve served Canada for 35 years as an officer and as a public servant, and if I’m elected, I’m going to keep earning that trust.”

Durst chose the PPC over other parties because “We are going to cut taxes and put more money back in families’ pockets. We will make food cheaper by ending supply management, and make it easier for folks, including military families, to move within Canada by reducing the red tape that makes it difficult to sell goods or get recognition for your credentials between provinces. The PPC stands for a government that is stronger, smaller, and smarter.”

Durst feels the PPC is the right party for the military community.

“One thing that stands out to me about the PPC is that Maxime Bernier understands that to create a strong, proud CAF that can defend our borders, we need to put our people first, in particular, our veterans.

“Veterans and their families are a huge issue for me. A military is only as strong as the people in it, and here in Canada, we’re frankly not doing enough to support our veterans – not even close.

“In addition to bringing back more reasonable pension provisions and simplifying the New Veterans Charter (including the 2011 Enhanced New Veterans Charter), Maxime Bernier has promised to create a Military Covenant between the government and those who serve in the Armed Forces to make sure veterans are taken care of well into the future.”

Alain Savard

Alain Savard is the People’s Party of Canada candidate in Salaberry-Suroit, QC.

A native of Beauharnois, QC he is the son of Rodolphe Savard, who was a municipal counsellor for many years. Because of his father’s career, Savard says he has been following politics since a young age.

Having been a soldier for a short time, Savard went on to have an international career that allowed him to travel much of Canada and the US. He’s been a lineman, worked on oil pipelines, and on the extraction of bitumen. He was called to manage emergency situations during natural disasters in Canada and the US. He was also a real estate broker and entrepreneur.

Savard says he “believes in humanity and change for the better. And we really need change.”

Savard describes himself as a straight shooter who says what’s on his mind. “I am certain that we can communicate since I’m a good listener and willing to listen to everyone’s point of view.”

Now retired, he was elected municipal counsellor for the city of Beauharnois in 2017.

Savard is very involved in his community through various organizations and takes to heart the welfare of Quebec and Canadian citizens.

Savard is married, the father of two children and grandfather to two girls.

Rob Lussier

Joseph Robin Sean Lussier, Rob for short, is running in the riding of Brandon – Souris, MB. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1965.

Lussier believes it is time to write a new chapter in Canadian politics.

“We need a smaller Canadian government. We need to rein in our spending. We need to help Canadians,” said Lussier.

Lussier explains, “After serving 32 years in the CAF, I fought to protect the basic fundamental rights and freedoms this country was built upon: equality before the law, equality for men and women, democracy, freedom, and respect for all. Canada is the best country in the world. We have our problems. We need to fix a few things, but we need to maintain what we have, or else we could lose it all.”

In the early years, Lussier’s family moved to Nanaimo, BC. His father abandoned the family, leaving his mother with two young children and no furniture or support. All of Lussier’s family years were spent on welfare, trying to make it in a single-parent family.

At the age of 13, Lussier joined the 2422 Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps (RCACC) at Nanaimo Military Camp.

The discipline and values instilled by the cadet program led Lussier to join the Canadian Scottish Regiment, a reserve infantry regiment, as an infantry soldier.

After years in the reserves, Lussier joined the regular forces as a Weapons Technician Land, specializing in armour and artillery throughout his career.

His postings included Gagetown, NB, Halifax, NS, Kingston, ON, Borden, ON, and Shilo, MB.

During his posting to the Canadian Forces School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, he was employed as the senior armament instructor at the school and in 2003 won the Top Instructor Award for the school.

Lussier left the regular army under a 3B medical release and joined the reserve force in the Cadet Instructor Cadre as the training officer for 2520 RCACC in Brandon, MB.

Lussier set out to make Brandon his home and remained there for the next 15 years.

Lussier was appointed commanding officer of 2520 RCACC. The cadet corps over the next four years grew substantially.

He won many community and service awards, including the Top Army Cadet Corps within the Region in 2015. Capt Lussier also set up a satellite army cadet corps at CFB Shilo.

Capt Lussier retired from the CAF in 2017, completing 32 years of service.

While working within the cadet program in Brandon and Shilo, Lussier began his real estate career. Lussier won numerous customer service awards, placing customer service and support above business motivations. Lussier left the real estate industry in 2018.

In his personal life, Lussier stays active in the Brandon community as president of The Kiwanis Club of Brandon and Lt Governor of Kiwanis Western Canada District (MB). He has worked with various community groups, including Relay for Life and Sgt-at-Arms for the Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans Unit 10 Brandon.

Lussier believes in a fiscally responsible government, responsible firearms ownership, and has a passion for the environment. He loves camping and travel, meeting new people, and exploring museums.

Kyle Scott

Kyle Scott is running in the Calgary Shepard, AB, and served in the King’s Own Calgary Regiment as a Reserve Armour Officer while attending the University of Calgary.

Scott explains, “I joined the CAF in 1982, signing up as an officer candidate. I chose RESO over RMC and remained in Calgary, serving in the King’s Own Calgary Regiment, as an Officer Cadet and then Commissioned in 1983, at the age of 19 as Second Lieutenant.

“I spent three summers in Gagetown, NB for training – basic officer training, crew commander and troop leader, Armour.”

Scott left the forces in1986.

“I had suffered knee injuries, and I had accepted a position to serve as part of the Team representing Alberta at Expo ’86 in Vancouver. I served as Pavilion Guide for the Alberta Pavilion and ended up as the doorman most of my shifts.”

Scott graduated with both his law degree and MBA from the University of Western Ontario. He has been practicing law in Alberta for over 25 years with a variety of companies, mostly involved in oil and gas or information technology.

He has had his own firm, Craft Law Group, for the past five years, focused on corporate and commercial law.

Scott says deciding to run was a two-stage process.

First, he joined the Peoples Party of Canada last October as a strong believer in Max Bernier and the new party’s policies.

Scott was then happy to put his name forward when the call came out for candidates.

“I believe our country is approaching a critical juncture where the mainstream Liberals and Conservatives, and of course, the NDP and Greens, continue to move “leftwards” along the political spectrum.

None believe in properly funding the military or veterans,” says Scott.

“Our Party’s veterans policy, written by veterans who are members of our party, is to restore veterans’ pensions to where they stood in April 2006 before being reduced by the Conservative Party of Canada, Mr. Harper’s government, and payout the differential to those who were called upon to serve.

“We also believe in increasing our military spending to do our part within NATO. Sending troops/sailors/airmen and women off to defend Canada’s interests with inadequate equipment is not fair and will only continue under the mainstream parties.”

Scott says he is not a professional politician. “I am a Calgarian, Albertan, Canadian who cares about my country and am willing to stand up and do the right thing for our country.”

Scott volunteers in his community as a Shriner raising funds for Children’s Hospitals in Canada and the United States, as well as serving as a volunteer director of Alberta Easter Seals, who raise funds to support persons with limited abilities.

Scott spends time hunting, motorcycle riding, and reading.

According to his wife Yolanta, he is a fabulous grill master and has perfected the secret Scott Family Chili Recipe.

David Michaud

David Michaud is excited to stand up for the people of Battle River – Crowfoot, Alberta.

Michaud says that in 2016 and 2017, he and his cousin were working on starting a party, and we’re calling it The People’s Party of Canada.

“I did not get the name registered. When I heard Maxime Bernier had actually started the PPC and had the same feeling on things that my cousin and I have, it was, as they say, a no brainer to join with him.”

Michaud spent more than two decades in the Communications Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces, serving both in Canada and abroad.

Michaud believes “Canadians are ready, and need, to embrace the fresh ideas of the PPC, and we deserve a higher level of integrity from our government officials. As a father, grandfather, husband, worker, homeowner, I know the stresses put on average Canadians.

“I have seen many of the atrocities that go on across the world. As a result of this and my background, I am not afraid of hard work, long hours, and sticking to a job until it is done.”

Michaud is honoured and excited to stand up for the people of Battle River-Crowfoot. “We have a lot of work to do between now and then, but I truly believe we can win this election! I believe in the party’s principles of personal freedom, individual responsibility, fairness, and respect. I try to live by these principles and advocate them in my daily life.”

Michaud lives in Beaver County with his wife, Heather. They’ve raised five children and are looking forward to their tenth grandchild in January.

“Our acreage has been the home to our greyhounds and a Malamute, and is frequently the safe haven for fostering retired racing greyhounds.”

Rick Stewart

Rick Stewart is a former forester, environmental consultant, and veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces and running in the Kootenay, Columbia, BC riding.

Stewart has lived and worked in the Kootenays since 1972 and resides in Nelson, British Columbia.

In 1974, after a summer working on a fire suppression crew at Bush Harbour north of Golden, Stewart joined the Canadian Armed Forces and attended basic training in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, followed by specialized training at Camp Borden, Ontario.

In 1976, Stewart was posted to Montreal as part of the security contingent for the Olympics and honourably discharged from the military in 1977.

He returned to the Kootenays to work as a logger and supervise summer fire-suppression crews for the Forest Service while earning a diploma in Forest Technology in 1981 at Selkirk College.

In 1982, Stewart enrolled in the University of Alberta Forestry program and was sponsored by the Finnish wood procurement firm Puulaaki Oy for four months summer employment in Finland.

During that summer, Stewart travelled behind the “Iron Curtain” to western Russia and saw first-hand how people were forced to live under communism. Rick recalls, “It was an eye-opening experience in a dystopian country with good people who lacked freedom and hope.”

During his studies, Stewart spent a year as an exchange student at Clemson University in South Carolina and worked as an assistant in the Forest Pathology Lab.

In 1986 he earned his Bachelor of Forest Science from the University of Alberta.

In 1987 Stewart went to work with the Ministry of Forests in Williams Lake and became the Regional Forest Health Officer in Nelson in 1990.

He mapped insect and disease outbreaks with district staff and his federal counterparts responsible for the National Parks and helped district offices plan future timber harvesting and implement their Forest Health programs.

In 1996, he became an Audit Team Manager with the Forest Practices Board and worked in all areas of the province to plan, supervise and report on audits of company and government forestry practices.

In 2000, Stewart left the government and incorporated his own company to provide environmental consulting services in the oil and gas fields of western Canada.

Stewart retired in 2014 to enjoy his home of 29 years on Kootenay Lake. He always enjoyed river tripping by canoe and wilderness exploration and travelled many rivers, including the Zambezi River in Africa.

After returning from a six-month tour of Australia in a camper van, Stewart became concerned with what he calls the utter insanity of the Liberal’s large deficits and additional taxation while pursuing a program of dubious social engineering.

“I refuse to roll over while foreign interests and Liberals engage in the “shakedown” of Canada and its culture. They are driving away investment and placing a huge yoke of debt on our children.”

Stewart originally worked with the Conservative party and was a nominee for the candidacy but resigned from the party when he felt Andrew Scheer abandoned Conservative principles.

“I was a political orphan for four months with nowhere to go until Maxime Bernier started the People’s Party of Canada. I share his common-sense vision for Canada and want to be the next Member of Parliament to represent the people in the riding of Kootenay-Columbia.

“I have lived and worked throughout the riding for nearly 50 years and know the area and people well. I believe in a strong and principled government that puts Canadians first and works for the people, not the other way around.”

Kelly Lorencz

Running in the Calgary – Nosehill, Alberta riding, Kelly Lorencz was born and raised in Calgary and grew up in Marlborough Park. As a candidate for The People’s Party of Canada, Lorenz says he knows Calgary. He understands the city and what it needs.

Lorencz is a Veteran who served with the Canadian Airborne Regiment and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Lorencz also spent time with the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry shooting team.

He represented Canada on a number of tours around the world.

After being honourably discharged from the military, he spent a number of years working in a sawmill and earned his license in Alberta to sell real estate.

For the last 10 years, Lorencz has worked as a corrections officer and is a respected Crisis Negotiator. Lorenz claims this experience has given him deep insights into gangs, drugs, and crime that will be invaluable in Parliament.

Lorencz is excited to represent the people of Calgary – Nose Hill. Lorencz says he’s never shied away from hard work and will work equally hard as a member of Parliament.

Lorencz enjoys skydiving, deep-sea diving, hunting, and going on nature walks with his dogs. He is still an avid shooter and enjoys spending time out on the range.

Sean Taylor

As a founding member of the People’s Party of Canada, Sean Taylor has been a volunteer and board member in the Okanagan, BC region.

Running in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay, BC riding Taylor, a believer in Maxime Bernier and the policies that have been put forth by the PPC. From Nomination Committees to manning a PPC tent, to being the driver for Maxime Bernier during his trip to the Okanagan in May 2019, Taylor has been very involved with the PPC.

Taylor grew up in Vernon and had an eclectic work history, including construction, various service industry jobs, running a small business, and manufacturing.

Taylor’s daughter Alyssa was born in 1997.

He went to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary in 1999 to complete an Emergency Medical Technician course. He moved to northern Alberta and worked for a service providing Advance Life Support air ambulance. He was also a volunteer with two Fire/Rescue services.

In 2002 Taylor enrolled in nursing at Mount Royal College and joined the Calgary Highlanders, a reserve light infantry unit. He graduated with distinction in 2005 and worked as an emergency nurse.

In 2008 Taylor took a break from nursing and went to Kingston, ON, for PsyOps training.

Later that same year, he started his training for Afghanistan. Taylor deployed in 2009-10 as the second in command of a Tactical Psychological Operations Team and worked with the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group based in Kandahar province.

Taylor currently works as an ER nurse for Interior Health in Kelowna, Penticton, and Vernon. This summer, Taylor completed basic officer training and is now a reserve Nursing Officer with 12 Field Ambulance in Vancouver.

Taylor says, “Throughout my career, I have done my best to be of service to my country and the communities I live in, and I feel privileged to have been able to do so. I view my involvement with the PPC as the next, and possibly most important, phase of this service.”

In 2015 an army buddy introduced Taylor to trading, and he took an active role in managing his retirement savings. “This caused me to pay closer attention to the news. I became alarmed at what I was seeing. I was watching corporations and hundreds of billions in investments and projects flee a dysfunctional Canadian regulatory environment.”

“I started doing research. In that search, I found several people speaking truth to power and paying the price for it. I was pleased to see there were a few Canadians in that group. Maxime Bernier was one of those people. For the first time in my life, a Canadian politician was saying things that resonated with me.”

“I felt compelled to get involved, so I became a founding member of the PPC. We live in a great country that was built on the sweat and sacrifice of those who came before us. I view this election as an opportunity to make a couple of minor course corrections and get back on track. I feel our platform and Max’s leadership are the best hope for the Canada I want my daughter and I to live in.”