During his first address to the Conservative Party caucus, leader Pierre Poilievre challenged the Liberals and New Democrats to focus on supporting affordability for struggling Canadians.."If you understand that people can't gas their cars, feed their families, or afford homes for themselves, if you really care, then commit today that there will be no new tax increases on workers and on seniors," Poilievre said to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau..Poilievre and his wife Ana brought their baby son, Cruz, onto the stage. "This is a historic moment for Canada, in that it is baby Cruz's first birthday," Poilievre said right before Cruz blew out a birthday candle..Speaking to the packed room of Conservative MPs and reporters, Poilievre highlighted the stories of ordinary Canadians struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. These included a man who had to tape up his work boots because he couldn't afford new ones, and a man from Timmins, Ontario who couldn't afford to buy diesel to drive to Thunder Bay and say goodbye to his dying parents.."Canadians are hurting, and it's our job to transform that back into hope," he said..The newly-elected Conservative leader told the "radical woke coalition" of Liberals and NDP that while Conservatives are always happy to work with anybody to collaborate, "There will be no compromise on this point: Conservatives will not support any new tax increases, and we will fight tooth and nail on this.".Poilievre said if elected prime minister, he would introduce legislation forcing the federal government to offset every dollar of new spending with a cut to something else, which he called a "pay-as-you-go" approach to budgeting.."We know the problem, the cost of government is driving up the cost of living," he said, pointing out that the federal deficit has doubled since the Liberals took office back in 2015. "The government should find a way to save one dollar for any new dollar spent. That's the proposal we're going to make.".Poilievre also reacted to a Toronto Star article he read, titled 'Liberals pledge response to inflation concerns after Pierre Poilievre’s victory.'."So after being told for two years that their massive money-printing, inflationary deficits would cause the cost of living to skyrocket, they have finally had an epiphany that Canadians are paying too much," he said.."Canadians are out of money, and this prime minister is out of touch.".Poilievre instead called for lowering taxes on our farmers, workers and small businesses so that they can "grow more affordable food, build more affordable homes, and produce the energy we need for future right here in Canada."."I want every single Canadian to have the opportunity that I had," Poilievre said.."To come from modest beginnings but work had every day, to make sacrifices, to be responsible, and to have all those virtues pay off as they realize their dreams in their country. A country with a small government but big citizens."
