The federal Conservative Party leader rallied in Nanaimo, promising to “axe the tax” the day a carbon tax increase came into effect nationwide.
Pierre Poilievre held a rally Monday, April 1, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, panning the carbon tax increase and its impacts on motorists filling up on the pump, and predicting it will cause other goods and services to become more expensive, too.
Poilievre said if the Conservative Party forms the next government, it will better support Canadian oil and gas production.
“Our better way is to view our energy and resources as a strength and not a weakness to our country…” he said. “We’re going to repeal Trudeau’s anti-development and unconstitutional [Canada Energy Regulator Act], we’re going to grant rapid permits to natural gas, we’re going to cool that gas down to -160 C, put it on a ship to Asia to shut down dirty coal fire over there, send it off to Europe to break European dependence on Putin and turn dollars for dictators into paycheques for our people.”
Poilievre covered a range of topics, from monetary policy, agriculture and guns to housing, drug addiction and crime.
He said the federal Liberal Party, with support of the New Democratic Party, subscribes to a “radical ideology” of seeking to control every aspect of Canadians’ lives.
“They want to control your money, your speech, your kids, your land, your livelihood,” he said. “Everything has to be in their control and under their thumb. That puts them on top and you on the bottom and that is not by accident.”
He said his party shares the common-sense views and values of Canadians working as teachers, farmers, electricians and servers to improve their lives and their children’s lives.
“These extraordinary people have the common wisdom, the common virtue and the common sense to decide for themselves,” he said. “It is the common sense of the common people united for our common home.”
Poilievre was introduced by Aaron Gunn, who is the Conservative candidate for North Island-Powell River, and by Tamara Kronis, the Conservative candidate for Nanaimo-Ladysmith.
A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza gathered on the conference centre stairway ahead of the politician’s rally, and continued to protest outside the building after that.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre rallies Nanaimo crowd against carbon tax… https://t.co/vGxnAxRt2g #Nanaimo pic.twitter.com/gOQIaysXgB
— Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin) April 2, 2024
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