Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada, issued the following statement after inflation rose to 3.0 per cent:
“In March, Prime Minister Carney told Canadians that ‘Affordability is the best it has been in over a decade.’ Since then, the costs of Carney have kept climbing with inflation rising to 3.0 per cent – 50 per cent above the Bank of Canada’s target.
“Energy is driving the surge: Gas prices have skyrocketed 25.7 per cent in the past year, while energy costs are up 16.6 per cent.
“That is terrible news for the family filling up the minivan before taking the kids back-to-school shopping, the senior driving to visit the grandkids, and the welders, renovators and landscapers filling their trucks before a long day building homes and major projects.
“But higher energy costs do not stop at the pump. They raise the cost of growing, making and moving everything Canadians buy.
“Grocery prices are up another 3.1 per cent. Fresh fruit prices jumped 4.7 per cent in July, the largest July increase since 2011.
“Compared to last year, when Carney took office, Canadians are paying 6.1 per cent more for fresh fruit, 3.9 per cent more for fresh vegetables and 12.4 per cent more for beef. Lettuce is up 18.8 per cent, carrots 15.6 per cent and ground beef 13.5 per cent. Pork is up 6.6 per cent and even fish costs 5.2 per cent more.
“Yet after driving up the cost of food and fuel, Carney plans to impose another 10-cent per litre gas tax hike after Labour Day.
“He should cancel the hike and accept the Conservative plan to take all federal taxes off gas until Canada Day, saving Canadians 25 cents per litre and a family as much as $1,200 a year.
“Mark Carney has doubled the deficit that Justin Trudeau left behind. Deficits bid up demand for goods and services, inflating the cost of living. Conservatives will keep fighting to axe taxes, lower inflation and bring down prices.
“We will unleash our economy, unblock our resources and get projects built to bring home powerful paycheques and restore the promise of a Canada that is affordable at home, safe at home and strong at home.”