Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called on Albertans at this year’s Calgary Stampede to maintain their allegiance to Canada as they approach an October vote that will determine whether to pursue a future binding separation referendum.
He told a tent packed with several hundred party supporters that he would “always stand for a united Canada.”
Poilievre, who flipped pancakes at the annual Stampede breakfast hosted by Conservative MP Jasraj Singh Hallan earlier in the day, said he wasn’t suggesting that those seeking separation lack valid concerns, adding that lecturing people with differing viewpoints isn’t helpful.
“We will always be willing to listen to the views and address the legitimate concerns of people who are involved in this debate,” Poilievre told the crowd, which included Premier Danielle Smith and Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas. “We want to ensure that when this is all over, we will once again be fully united as citizens of a common land dedicated to a common purpose of restoring the promise of this country.”
That promise, he said, was that anyone who worked hard and made sacrifices would be rewarded with a “great life.” Instead, there is economic disparity between working Canadians and the ruling establishment, he added.
“The deal was simple: plant, grow, harvest,” he said. “But right now, only half of that deal remains in place. You see, the people are doing their part, they’re doing the back-breaking, gruelling work that they were supposed to do, but when the harvest comes, there’s a group of aristocrats who come along and scoop it up.”
Smith announced on May 21 that a question would be added to the ballot in the Oct. 19 provincial referendum to gauge voters’ views on staying in Canada. Smith put the question on the ballot after a court dismissed a proposed referendum petition from separatist organization Stay Free Alberta this spring.
Affordability
Poilievre’s speech also focused on affordability issues, arguing the government has not made progress on making life less costly for Canadians.“They drive up our food costs with taxes and red tape, then create new government programs to supposedly subsidize affordable food,” Poilievre said, referring to the government’s Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB).
The Tory leader said his party has “three main priorities: affordability, affordability, and affordability.” He said he would scrap policies that he argued have hindered economic advancement, citing the Impact Assessment Act, a federal law that establishes a process to evaluate the potential environmental, economic, health, and social impacts of major projects.
The federal impact assessment process has a legislated timeline goal of two years for completion but often takes longer based on project complexity.
He also repeated his call for Carney to lift the ban on north coast oil tankers to permit a pipeline through northern B.C., and said a Tory government would eliminate the industrial carbon tax to “unlock” free enterprise by getting “out of the way” of major projects.
“We will grant six-month permits to build LNG plants, mines, ports, roads, rail, transmission, and other major paycheque generating projects,” he said. “And we'll build up a strategic reserve of the 10 NATO defined strategic minerals that you need to fight a war.”
The longtime Conservative politician also talked about military spending and justice, saying a Tory government would boost military spending and prioritize a “warrior culture,” crack down on crime, toughen border security, and reverse the federal gun buyback program.
