Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre delivered a speech today at the Toronto Congress Centre, rallying supporters and outlining his party’s vision for tax reform. The event, dubbed “Spike the Hike: Axe the Tax,” drew a large crowd of enthusiastic attendees eager to hear Poilievre’s proposals.
In his speech, Poilievre wasted no time in criticizing the government’s taxation policies. He argued that such measures only serve to burden Canadian businesses and households, ultimately hindering economic growth. “My Common Sense plan, my friends, is to ax the tax on Canadian businesses so that they can bring home the production to this country,” Poilievre declared to applause from the audience.
Expanding on his economic platform, Poilievre emphasized the importance of fostering domestic production and reducing bureaucratic barriers to homebuilding. He highlighted the need to streamline building permit processes, citing excessive bureaucracy as a significant obstacle to affordable housing. “The biggest single cost added to building a home in Canada is not land, labor, or lumber, it is bureaucracy,” Poilievre asserted, proposing incentives for municipalities to expedite housing completions.
Poilievre also addressed concerns about rising housing costs, attributing the issue to misguided government policies. He warned against the detrimental effects of the carbon tax on homebuilding, pointing out that increased costs trickle down to consumers. “The carbon tax will make home building even more expensive,” Poilievre cautioned, noting the impact on raw material prices and construction expenses.
Beyond economic matters, Poilievre touched on law enforcement and public safety, pledging to crack down on crime and repeat offenders. He criticized what he described as “catch and release” policies for violent offenders, vowing to make them ineligible for bail under a Conservative government. “It will be jail, not bail, for repeat violent offenders,” Poilievre declared, garnering applause from supporters.
Poilievre’s speech also addressed drug policy, with a focus on combating the opioid crisis. He condemned the government’s approach of decriminalizing narcotics, arguing that it facilitates drug diversion and endangers public health. “Our Common Sense plan is to recriminalize hard drugs, stop giving out taxpayer-funded opioids, and put the money into treatment and recovery,” Poilievre asserted, emphasizing the need for a proactive approach to addiction.
In addition to tax and public safety reforms, Poilievre outlined his party’s plans to strengthen border security, support law-abiding gun owners, and prioritize infrastructure investments. He criticized what he deemed wasteful government spending, promising to implement a “dollar-for-dollar” law requiring politicians to find savings for every new dollar of spending.
As the Conservative Party gears up for the campaign trail, Poilievre’s rallying cry for tax reform and accountability may prove to be a defining theme in the upcoming election.