Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre brought his "Axe the Tax" message to Sault Ste. Marie Sunday.
Beginning his visit to the Sault near an Axe the Carbon Tax billboard sign on Bruce Street, Poilievre repeated his pledge to scrap Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax if the Conservatives win the next federal election.
Poilievre said the tax does nothing to curb emissions and that the current Liberal government has not met any of its own carbon emission targets.
“It’s failed,” Poilievre told SooToday referring to the tax.
“The carbon tax has not allowed us to meet any targets and according to the Prime Minister’s own environment commissioner we are not even on track to coming close to meeting our targets in the year 2030 like Mr. Trudeau promised. Canada is rated as one of the worst ranked countries [for carbon emissions] in the world after eight years of Trudeau’s government. This is not helping the environment. It’s just a tax grab to put money into the pockets of the government and take it out of the pockets of Canadians.”
Poilievre told reporters that a Conservative government would quicken approval of energy projects such as small modular nuclear reactors that can supply clean electricity, hydroelectric dams and, on the East Coast, tidal energy projects.
“These projects, if approved quickly, can supply us with clean, green, low carbon alternatives that are a low price for our consumers rather than driving up the cost of the energy that we still need.”
Poilievre added that a Conservative government would also quickly approve mining projects to gather lithium for electric vehicle batteries.
The Conservative leader was greeted on Bruce Street in chilly morning weather by approximately 25 supporters, many of them carrying Axe the Tax signs.
“I’d like to see him axe the carbon tax to make life more affordable for Canadians. I see families struggling these days to make ends meet and I think the carbon tax is a big part of that and driving up the cost of everything,” said Brian Evans, one of those in attendance.
“His message is common sense about axing a tax that is unnecessary for the average income earner. It’s unnecessary for Canadians to have to bear the brunt of trying to lower carbon emissions. It doesn’t do anything to lower emissions. We need to rely on heavy industry like Algoma Steel which is transitioning to an electric arc furnace,” said Michael Gassi.
Poilievre then spoke to a packed room at The Water Tower Inn, talking about other issues such as the need for housing and his plan to address it.
“I’m going to link the number of dollars that cities get for infrastructure with the number of homes they allow to be built. I’ll require they boost home building by 15 per cent per year. If they meet the target, they get a bonus. If they miss the target they’ll get a penalty. If they meet my target by 10 per cent they’ll get 10 per cent more money. If they miss the target by 10 per cent they’ll get 10 per cent less. I’m going to say to the mayors ‘get your bureaucrats approving housing projects quickly and you will get more money.’”
His housing plan, Poilievre said, includes selling off 6,000 federal buildings and thousands of acres of federal land to build more homes and apartment complexes.
Poilievre was accompanied by Scott Aitchison, Parry Sound-Muskoka MP and Conservative Shadow Minister for Housing.
Poilievre finished his visit to the Sault by addressing another packed room at the Algoma Rod and Gun Club.
The Conservatives have criticized the Trudeau government’s gun control laws which they say punishes law abiding gun owners.
“I know that hunting is a centuries-old tradition around here and it is under attack. The reality is that we have a radical prime minister with an agenda to control everyone’s lives and ban all civilian firearms ownership. He’s only just begun. If he’s re-elected he will ban your hunting rifle. He will ban your .22. He will ban every firearm that exists in Canada except for the military and police,” Poilievre said.
That concern is shared by gun club members such as Steven Veldt.
“We’re the most law-abiding Canadians. They’re slowly chipping away the ability for Canadians to own firearms,” Veldt told SooToday.
Poilievre said his plan is to leave hunters alone and beef up border security against illegal gun smuggling.
He said the current government’s Bill C-75 has led to a catch and release problem and an increase in violent gun crime.
“I’m going to pass a law making anyone with a long rap sheet ineligible for bail. Jail, not bail, for repeat violent offenders. And we’re going to stop the decriminalization of crack and heroin. I find it incredible that they’re decriminalizing heroin and banning your plastic straw,” Poilievre told the gun club audience.
The Sault was the final stop on Poilievre’s northern Ontario Axe the Tax tour before heading off to Quebec Sunday evening.