Calgary, AB – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada, released the following statement on Alberta’s referendum:
“Conservatives are thrilled to see Albertans vote for a stronger province within a united Canada. I want to thank Dane Lloyd of Conservatives for Canada, who led a fierce campaign for our country throughout this referendum. All of us now want to bring everyone into the fold.
“Let us now focus on unity for everyone. In the last several months, a quarter of Albertans and a third of Quebecers have, in various ways, voted in favour of a separatist option. I want to speak to them today:
“Many of you have lost hope in Canada. Maybe you’re a young person who, despite all your hard work, can’t afford a house. Maybe you’re a single mother who works two jobs and still can’t afford food on the dinner table. Maybe you’re a police officer tired of arresting the same thugs who are released on Liberal bail again and again. Maybe you’re a trades worker frustrated that our resources and your opportunities are still stuck in the ground.
“My message is: we’ll fight for you – we can, and we will fix these problems. We Conservatives will fight to save you money, save your job, keep you safe, cap immigration and put Canada first. We will restore the promise of this country, we’ll bring you back into the Canadian family with all proud Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
“There were also questions in the referendum about immigration. It was inappropriate for the Prime Minister to tell Canadians and tell Albertans that they should continue to give deluxe taxpayer benefits to people who are illegally here, to give them benefits that even Canadians who paid into the system their whole lives do not receive.
“For the Prime Minister to suggest that Albertans vote in favour of continued mass, unvetted, out-of-control immigration was a mistake. I support the decision of Albertans, and I support bringing immigration back under control. The provinces should have control over selection and numbers because they have to provide the services, regulate the job market and the housing for people to come in.
“Taxpayers should not be forced to pay deluxe benefits to people who are here illegally. The Prime Minister was wrong on this and was wrong all along. Despite his promises, immigration is still out of control. The number of people coming in is still at historic highs. They under-reported the number of people here by 300 thousand people. Either they can’t keep track of the number of people in Canada, or they were lying to Canadians about the true number.
“Recently, the Prime Minister went to the New York Times, a foreign newspaper, to tell them that he wants to increase immigration. That too is a mistake that shows he’s totally out of touch; immigration is totally out of control, and Canadians are totally out of money.
“Conservatives will be fighting to bring back control to our immigration system, to end the deluxe benefits for people here illegally, to cut the numbers way down, to kick out foreign criminals, to pass the One Law for All Act, which requires that judges give full sentences to visiting criminals so that they serve their time before being deported from Canada.
“We need a Canada First immigration policy, and that is what Conservatives will deliver. We’re going to restore the promise of this country, a country where anybody from anywhere can achieve anything, where hard work gets you a great life and an affordable home with good food on the dinner table, on a safe street under our proud flag. That is our mission.
“God bless Alberta and may God keep our beautiful country united.”