Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has issued a challenge to the Liberal-NDP government ahead of its Fall Economic Statement, calling for decisive action to ease Canadians’ financial burdens. His demands focus on halting planned tax increases, curbing inflationary spending, and adhering to stricter fiscal discipline.“Canadians are struggling under the weight of rising taxes, runaway inflation, and growing debt,” Poilievre said Sunday. “It’s time for common sense. Stop the tax hikes, stop fueling inflation, and stop adding debt.”Poilievre’s first demand is to freeze planned tax hikes, particularly the carbon tax, which is set to increase by nearly 19% this spring. The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) has confirmed that carbon taxes will extract $40 billion from Canada’s GDP, disproportionately impacting middle-class Canadians. The Clean Fuel Regulations will also add 17 cents per liter to fuel costs by 2030.“Since the carbon tax came into place, food prices have risen 37% faster than in the U.S.,” Poilievre noted. “When you tax farmers and truckers, you tax every Canadian who buys food.” He highlighted that over 2 million food bank visits were recorded in March 2024, a troubling sign of worsening affordability.Poilievre also called for the elimination of the GST on new homes under $1 million, which he says could save homebuyers up to $50,000 and spur the construction of 30,000 additional homes annually. He tied this to his broader critique of rising housing costs, noting that home ownership now consumes nearly 60% of the median household income, compared to 39% when Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister.On government spending, Poilievre demanded the introduction of a dollar-for-dollar rule, requiring all new spending to be offset by equivalent savings. He cited Liberal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s promise to cap the deficit at $40 billion, which has since ballooned to a projected $46.4 billion for 2024/25.“Trudeau has added more debt than all previous Prime Ministers combined, even with his tax hikes,” Poilievre stated. “This wasteful spending has driven up the cost of everything.”Poilievre criticized the government’s track record on investment and job creation, warning that tax hikes, including planned increases to the capital gains tax, would continue to drive money and talent to the United States. Economist Jack Mintz has projected that these changes could reduce Canada’s GDP by $90 billion and cost 414,000 jobs.“Liberals are taxing and spending Canada into economic decline,” Poilievre said. “Only Conservatives will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, and stop the crime.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has issued a challenge to the Liberal-NDP government ahead of its Fall Economic Statement, calling for decisive action to ease Canadians’ financial burdens. His demands focus on halting planned tax increases, curbing inflationary spending, and adhering to stricter fiscal discipline.“Canadians are struggling under the weight of rising taxes, runaway inflation, and growing debt,” Poilievre said Sunday. “It’s time for common sense. Stop the tax hikes, stop fueling inflation, and stop adding debt.”Poilievre’s first demand is to freeze planned tax hikes, particularly the carbon tax, which is set to increase by nearly 19% this spring. The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) has confirmed that carbon taxes will extract $40 billion from Canada’s GDP, disproportionately impacting middle-class Canadians. The Clean Fuel Regulations will also add 17 cents per liter to fuel costs by 2030.“Since the carbon tax came into place, food prices have risen 37% faster than in the U.S.,” Poilievre noted. “When you tax farmers and truckers, you tax every Canadian who buys food.” He highlighted that over 2 million food bank visits were recorded in March 2024, a troubling sign of worsening affordability.Poilievre also called for the elimination of the GST on new homes under $1 million, which he says could save homebuyers up to $50,000 and spur the construction of 30,000 additional homes annually. He tied this to his broader critique of rising housing costs, noting that home ownership now consumes nearly 60% of the median household income, compared to 39% when Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister.On government spending, Poilievre demanded the introduction of a dollar-for-dollar rule, requiring all new spending to be offset by equivalent savings. He cited Liberal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s promise to cap the deficit at $40 billion, which has since ballooned to a projected $46.4 billion for 2024/25.“Trudeau has added more debt than all previous Prime Ministers combined, even with his tax hikes,” Poilievre stated. “This wasteful spending has driven up the cost of everything.”Poilievre criticized the government’s track record on investment and job creation, warning that tax hikes, including planned increases to the capital gains tax, would continue to drive money and talent to the United States. Economist Jack Mintz has projected that these changes could reduce Canada’s GDP by $90 billion and cost 414,000 jobs.“Liberals are taxing and spending Canada into economic decline,” Poilievre said. “Only Conservatives will axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, and stop the crime.”
