Poilievre visits Sask. in Conservative leadership campaign stops

He joined Gormley to discuss his plans moving forward.

“People want to take back control of their lives,” Poilievre said. “Government has gotten big and bossy. Whether it is the federal mandates on COVID … whether it has been the constant attempt by other provincial governments — not here in Saskatchewan fortunately — to constantly lock things down and shut down our economies … what I’m hearing is people want to take back control of their lives, and that is why I’m running for prime minister.

“I want to make this the freest country on Earth.”

He also touched on inflation, noting how prices have skyrocketed for food, fuel and many other things.

“It’s the fact that most young people across this country can’t afford a home, with the typical price rising to $836,000, and single moms can’t afford nutritious groceries because of food inflation,” Poilievre said.

“Government has gotten so big and it’s inflated the cost of living that people no longer have the freedom to make the decisions of what to eat, where to live, or even to take a mask off and smile.”

One policy he thinks will go over well in Saskatchewan is his promise to scrap the federal carbon tax.

On top of the economic benefits, he also believes it would be good for the environment.

“Saying no to a carbon tax is a responsible way to combat climate change. The carbon tax is bad for our environment because it drives business out of Canada to more polluting foreign jurisdictions,” he said.

“What we need to do is repatriate production to this country so that we can produce energy with a smaller environmental footprint, and then export both the product and the technology to the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

For example, he said coal-fired plants around the world could be shut down if Canada produced and exported more natural gas.

Gormley also touched on political strategy.

The Conservatives have struggled in Toronto, a very politically important area, for the last few elections.

He asked Poilievre how he would be able to sway voters there without being branded a “right-wing populist who is only appealing to the hardest Conservatives in the country.”

“My policies on these issues are especially popular in suburban Ontario,” Poilievre replied.

“You know what the biggest issue around Toronto is right now? It’s the cost of living. You’ve got single moms who are walking down the grocery aisle and they realize they’re going to have to downgrade their family diet just to afford the bills …

“And of course all of this cash creation that (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau has done, $400 billion in newly created cash, has flooded into our real estate market and made it so the average house in Toronto is over $1 million.”

Poilievre also said that, if elected prime minister, he would cut taxes and stop printing money.

But before he can run in a federal election, he has to win the Conservative leadership race. The party is to select its news leader on Sept. 10.

by Dominick Lucyk

Poilievre visits Sask. in Conservative leadership campaign stops

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