DELTA: Thousands of people came from across the Lower Mainland to attend Pierre Poilievre's last rally in British Columbia before election day.
The Conservative leader and his team took advantage of the nice sunny day, opting to hold the event outdoors.
Even when the rally grounds appeared full, the lineup to get in stretched over 400 metres. Somehow organizers managed to fit everyone in before the speakers took the stage.
The event kicked off with short speeches from local candidates, including Delta's Jessy Sahota, followed by an introduction by Poilievre's wife, Anaida.
Poilievre began by taking aim at his main rival, Mark Carney, warning that if elected, the Liberal leader would "do exactly what Trudeau did — on steroids!"
"We can't afford four more years of the Liberals," he said. "We need a change."
The Conservative leader brought up the Liberals' costed plan, pointing out that it was "written for Trudeau" and amended for his successor.
"When Carney took over, they opened the document, they did control-f, and simply swapped out the name Trudeau for Carney," he said. "They said that’s change. Maybe it's a change of the spelling, but it's not a change in the plan."
He then drew attention to a report released by the Privy Council Office that painted a rather bleak picture of the future if Canada stays on its current course.
"They say that 'owning a home is not a realistic goal for many'," Poilievre said, quoting the document. "'Most new homeowners get help from family members. Some take out intergenerational mortgages and have several generations of families living together'."
He lamented that if the report's predictions come to fruition, "by 2040, instead of inheriting wealth from the older generation, you're gonna inherit a mortgage."
Also noted in the report was a claim that by 2040 there will be "a tiny group of very wealthy people that are separate and above," and that "everyone else works to pay the bills of the country."
Perhaps the most shocking part of the report, however, was the suggestion that grocery prices could get so high that Canadians may opt to "hunt, fish, and forage" on public lands.
Poilievre pointed out that this comes as the Liberals "want to ban hunting rifles," and joked that people should start practicing archery.
After vowing to axe the entire carbon tax and repeal Bill C-69 to allow for the building of new pipelines, Poilievre shifted his focus to the healthcare system, which is struggling to keep up in BC and beyond.
Poilievre said a Conservative government would fast-track immigrant doctors and nurses to ensure those who are qualified can easily practice their craft in Canada.
"They say in Toronto if you have a heart attack don’t call 911, call an Uber, because the driver is probably a doctor," he quipped.
Poilievre concluded by urging people to get out and make their voices heard at the ballot box.
"To all those out there suffering, and thinking of giving up: Have hope. Change is on the way," he said. "On Monday we need to vote for that change ... Let's vote to bring home the country we know, the country we love."
According to recent projections from 338Canada, of BC's 43 ridings, 16 are either "leaning," "likely," or "safe" for the Conservatives. A further 10 are "toss ups" between the Conservatives and Liberals, and in some cases the NDP.
The Liberals, meanwhile, are either "leaning," "likely," or "safe" in 13 ridings, and the NDP fall into those categories in just one. The seats previously held by the NDP are split between the Conservatives and Liberals, though many are toss ups.
The Conservatives appear poised to flip northern Vancouver Island. On Friday night, Poilievre held a rally near Comox that drew a crowd of over 4,000 people.
