Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada, sent the following letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney outlining the priorities Conservatives are fighting for when Parliament returns:
Prime Minister,
Tomorrow, Parliament returns.
Conservatives will return with a clear plan for the fall: save Canadians money, save Canadian jobs, keep Canadians safe, fix immigration and put Canada first.
Canadians need action on all five because they are struggling.
Last week, Money Mentors reported that 49 per cent of working Canadians feel less financially secure than they did a year ago, while just 17 per cent feel more secure. Nearly three times as many feel they are falling behind as getting ahead.
Canadians have done everything right. They work hard. They follow the rules. They contribute to their communities.
That used to be the Canadian promise: if you worked hard, you could afford a home, raise a family, retire with dignity and leave your children with an even better country.
After eleven years of Liberal government, more Canadians feel that promise slipping away.
They are paying more because of inflationary deficits, high taxes and red tape. Food costs more. Fuel costs more. Housing costs more. Businesses face taxes and bureaucracy that make it harder to invest, hire and grow.
Canadians have heard the speeches. They have seen the summits and signing ceremonies.
But where are the results for them?
You promised to get a trade deal with the United States. Instead, Canada and the United States are now in an escalating tariff dispute that is raising costs and threatening Canadian workers and businesses.
Canadians cannot afford more talk.
They need results that save them money and jobs.
That is why, as Parliament returns, Conservatives will fight this fall for the following five priorities:
1. Save Canadians money.
Cut the taxes and government costs that make everything more expensive.
Simplify the tax code. Eliminate the industrial carbon tax. Cut taxes that raise the cost of fuel, food and housing. Cut wasteful bureaucracy, consultants, corporate welfare and costly government boondoggles.
Use the savings to lower debt, taxes and inflation so Canadians can keep more of what they earn.
Liberals cost Canadians money. Conservatives will save them money.
2. Save Canadian jobs.
If the United States raises costs on its businesses, Canada must lower costs on ours.
We should outcompete the Americans, not out-tax them.
Approve the 500 projects stuck in federal permitting. Repeal anti-development laws. Eliminate the capital gains tax on money reinvested in Canada. Get government out of the way so Canadians can build mines, pipelines, LNG plants, factories and homes.
Then use a stronger Canadian economy as leverage to fight for tariff-free trade with the United States and new markets around the world.
3. Keep Canadians safe.
Repeal Liberal catch-and-release laws. End repeat violent offending. Restore serious sentences for serious crimes. Give police the tools they need to protect our streets and communities.
Canadians who follow the law should come first.
4. Fix immigration.
Bring immigration back to sustainable levels that Canada can absorb.
Stop fraud and abuse. Keep foreign criminals out. Put Canadians first for jobs, homes and health care.
At the same time, welcome law-abiding, hardworking skilled immigrants and make it easier for trained doctors, nurses and other professionals to use their skills and contribute to our country.
5. Put Canada first.
Decisions about Canada must be made by Canadians here at home.
We should trade with countries where it advances our national interest. We should fight for freer trade with the United States and Europe and pursue opportunities around the world.
But Canada must never surrender control over our laws, taxes, borders or democratic institutions to Washington, Beijing, Brussels or anyone else.
Recent discussion of a possible new Canada-EU relationship remains undefined publicly; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has floated “associate member” status while you have spoken more broadly about a new strategic alliance. Canadians deserve clarity on what, precisely, is being negotiated in their name.
Canada should cooperate with our allies while remaining master in our own home.
Prime Minister, Canadians are not pawns on a global chessboard.
They are real people with kids to feed, rent and mortgages to pay, jobs to protect and retirements to secure.
They do not need another season of speeches, summits and symbolic announcements.
They need results.
Tomorrow, Parliament gets back to work. Conservatives are ready with a plan to save Canadians money, save Canadian jobs, keep Canadians safe, fix immigration and put Canada first.
Canadians have held up their end of the deal.
It is time for their government to do the same.
Let’s get to work.