Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer held a news conference outside the Liberal caucus retreat in Nanaimo, B.C., today, delivering a sharp critique of the federal government’s policies under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In a fiery address, Scheer argued that the retreat would yield no substantive solutions to the issues facing Canadians. He pointed to rising inflation, increasing crime rates, and housing instability as evidence of the Liberal government’s policy failures.
“After nine years of Justin Trudeau’s radical agenda, Canadians are suffering untold misery,” Scheer said. “Families are being forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table.”
Scheer criticized the Liberals’ fiscal policies, especially their deficit spending, which he linked to the rising cost of living. He cited increasing reliance on food banks and the challenges faced by Canadian families dealing with inflation and high mortgage rates.
“Millions of Canadians, many of them for the first time in their lives, are turning to food banks,” Scheer said. “And that’s happening under Justin Trudeau’s watch.”
Scheer placed part of the blame on Carney, calling him “Mark carbon tax Carney” in reference to the former governor’s support for a carbon tax. Scheer contended that Carney’s influence would only continue the economic policies he believes have worsened the cost-of-living crisis.
“Carney supports these failed policies. He loves the carbon tax. He has to explain to Canadians why his solution is to make things more expensive for them,” Scheer said.
Scheer also linked the rise in violent crime to the Liberal government’s bail reforms, which he described as a “catch and release” system. He stated that Trudeau’s policies have made Canadian communities less safe by allowing repeat offenders back on the streets soon after their arrests.
“Police associations from coast to coast are telling us the same thing: the crime wave terrorizing Canadian communities is a direct result of the changes Trudeau made to Canada’s bail system,” Scheer asserted. He called for tougher measures to ensure that dangerous offenders remain behind bars.
Addressing Canada’s housing crisis, Scheer highlighted a recent report that suggests a significant number of homeowners are struggling to keep up with mortgage payments. He criticized the Liberal government’s failure to address soaring housing costs and blamed high interest rates, which he linked to the Liberals’ fiscal mismanagement and inflationary policies.
“One in seven Canadians may have to sell their home because they won’t be able to afford their mortgage renewal. That’s happening after the Bank of Canada raised interest rates to fight the inflation that Justin Trudeau caused,” Scheer said.
Carney, a prominent figure in Canadian and global finance, has been a long-time supporter of policies aimed at addressing climate change and economic inequality. Speculation about his role within the Liberal Party has intensified, particularly after reports that he may become a special adviser to Trudeau. His past experience, particularly during the 2008 financial crisis, has drawn praise from some quarters, though Scheer sought to undermine his potential influence.
“Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau are essentially the same person—out-of-touch elites who think they know better than hardworking Canadians,” Scheer said, adding that Carney’s role would not change the course of Liberal policy.
Scheer concluded his remarks by contrasting the Conservative Party’s approach under leader Pierre Poilievre with the Liberals’ track record. He emphasized the Conservative commitment to scrapping the carbon tax, balancing the budget, and incentivizing homebuilding in an effort to stabilize prices and improve housing affordability.
“The common sense Conservative Party is offering relief from all this hardship. We’re going to ax the tax, fix the budget, and stop the crime. We’re going to get Canada back on track,” Scheer declared.
As the fall parliamentary session approaches, the political divide between the Liberals and Conservatives appears to be deepening. The next few months will see both parties laying out competing visions for Canada’s future.