Poilievre pitches tax cuts, LNG exports in Saint John
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s first day of touring Atlantic Canada included a stop in Saint John, N.B., to “enjoy a beer,” with the backdrop used to pan an excise tax on alcohol.
“So, if the carbon tax is enough to drive you to drink, well you’ll pay more tax when you do that too,” said Poilievre, speaking outside the Moosehead Small Batch Brewery Friday afternoon.
The official opposition leader concentrated his criticisms of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government on taxes and gun control legislation.
“It is not the hunter in Grand Falls that is shooting up downtown Toronto,” said Poilievre. “It is the gangster who does repeated offences and gets out through the revolving door.”
Poilievre also made a local link between economic development and how it could help an ailing health-care system.
“I’ll give an example of that right here in New Brunswick,” said Poilievre. “There’s a potential for natural gas. We’ve got the Repsol import terminal. It can be reversed and used to export natural gas from right across Canada, but eventually, from right here in New Brunswick. That could generate billions of dollars.”
Poilievre’s mention of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Saint John has also been pushed by the provincial Blaine Higgs’ Progressive Conservative government.
Poilievre was expected to make additional appearances this weekend in Nova Scotia, as well as Newfoundland and Labrador.
Don Desserud, a political scientist at the University of Prince Edward Island, said Poilievre is still in the introductory stage of his leadership role, which began this past September.
“A lot of this is basically logistics,” said Desserud, referencing potential Atlantic stops in the next federal election. “I also think the Conservatives are trying to figure out exactly how Pierre Poilievre is selling to the public.”
“He’s been getting good crowds in Ontario and out west, but what’s it like out here?”
Of the 32 federal electoral seats in Atlantic Canada right now, 24 are Liberal and eight are Conservative.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.