Conservatives Launch $1 Million Ad Campaign Highlighting Rising Costs

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre outlines his North American auto policy during a press event at Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing Ltd. in Windsor, Ont., on March 15, 2026. The Canadian Press/Dax Melmer

The Conservative Party is launching a $1 million ad campaign aiming to highlight the rising cost of living and outline party leader Pierre Poilievre’s vision for Canada.

One television and one radio ad will run for almost three months to highlight “how groceries have become increasingly expensive“ since the Liberals came to power in 2015, according to the announcement, saying food inflation in Canada is ”now worse than in all other G7 countries.”

A second ad will outline Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s vision for Canada, including on addressing affordability issues.

The Conservative Party said the campaign will run across television, radio, connected TV, and digital platforms in both official languages, beginning April 8 and continuing until the end of June.

The first ad features a quote from Mark Carney when he was sworn in as prime minister at Rideau Hall in March 2025, where he said Canadians would hold the government to account “by their experience at the grocery store,” and vote accordingly at the ballot box.

After the ad highlights several news articles on the rising cost of food, it shows a clip of a mother deciding not to buy cookies from the grocery store because “everything’s just so expensive.” Her daughter asks if food has always been so pricey, and the mother responds, “I’m worried it’s only going to get worse.”

The ad then asks, “After 11 years of Liberal government, are you better off?”

According to the latest Statistics Canada report, the price of food in stores rose by 4.1 percent in the past year through February, led by fresh and frozen beef, which rose 13.9 percent in February. Overall, food prices in Canada have risen by 30.1 percent since February 2021.

Poilievre recently called on the Liberal government to remove all taxes on gasoline and diesel for the remainder of 2026 as fuel prices rise due to the war in Iran. He said the measure would save the average family of four around $1,200 a year.

When Carney was asked by reporters about rising gas prices, he said the government was “very aware” of it, and has worked to improve affordability for Canadians, including through cutting taxes for 22 million people and implementing new social programs.

Carney said his government would “look at this as the conflict evolves, and most importantly, at the impact on Canadians,” while adding that was not “necessarily the final word,” he said.