Panels removed: Bernier blames "totalitarian leftist pack"

The leader of the People's Party of Canada complains of censorship after the owner of the billboards, featuring the face of Mr. Bernier and a slogan opposing mass immigration, announced he would withdraw advertising in response to a wave of criticism.

Mr. Bernier claims that his political opponents and a leftist pack want to stifle immigration discussions and keep them out of the electoral process.

Pattison Affichage, which owns the signs, initially stated that anyone with a problem with the content should contact the advertiser, True North Strong & Free Advertising Corp.

But the company changed course, saying that it never wanted to offend or alienate anyone and that the signs would be removed.

Mr. Bernier said that the threshold of 350,000 immigrants that Canada accepts each year should be reduced. The platform of his party says that it inflates housing prices and encourages other political parties to usemass immigration as a way to buy voices from immigrant communities.