Federal Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre brought his “axe the tax” rallying cry to Winnipeg Thursday.
About 1,500 boisterous people crammed into the convention centre to hear the Tory leader call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government a “dictatorial regime.”
“My friends, we look around our country today and see the suffering of our fellow citizens… Justin Trudeau is not worth the cost,” Poilievre said, sporting a baby blue shirt with his signature “axe the tax” slogan on it.
He promised to build homes, reduce crime, and repeal the federal carbon tax if elected prime minister in the next election, set for next year.
Attendees waved placards emblazoned with Poilievre’s mantras “axe the tax” and “spike the hike.” The audience included conservative stalwarts Sen. Don Plett, Provencher MP Ted Falk and MLAs Ron Schuler and Wayne Ewasko.
During his 40-minute speech, Poilievre promised he’ll approve pipelines and oil sands mines.
Attendee Ruslan Stoyanov, who moved to Winnipeg from Israel 12 years ago, said the country has declined.
“Everything is so expensive, I make more than minimum wage and I’m still struggling. I’m worried about my future,” he said, dressed in a black shirt with the slogan “W.T.F — Where’s the funds?”
Julie Rose and her husband, Andrew, were eager to get a peek at the Tory leader and listen to his promise to lower the cost of living.
“I have a lot of concerns: whether or not I’m going to be able to make my mortgage payments, keep the heat on in my home,” she said. “It’s absolutely ridiculous with this carbon tax, $75 gets me half a tank of gas.”
Andrew criticized Trudeau’s recent announcement to support people who rent their home, including a renters’ protection fund and a bill of rights.
“That won’t help people in the long run because they can’t afford to buy a house in the first place,” he said. “Worst prime minister ever.”
In the corner of the room, a large timer counted down the time left until “Trudeau’s April 1st tax hike.”
The carbon price will equal 17 cents per litre of gasoline, 15 cents per cubic metre of natural gas and 21 cents per litre of diesel fuel.
Before the event, Poilievre met with Premier Wab Kinew Thursday afternoon at the Manitoba legislature, where they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries after Poilievre kept the premier waiting for 10 minutes at the foot of the grand staircase.
Poilievre applauded Kinew’s request to Ottawa to exempt Manitoba from the federal carbon tax.
“In order to make moves on the environment, we got to bring the working class with us… right now, people are struggling so we gotta show some flexibility,” Kinew told Poilievre.
“Sounds like common sense to me,” Poilievre replied.
Winnipeg had two federal visitors Thursday. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland flew in to discuss child care — and faced questions about the carbon tax hike.
A recent poll by Leger commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation found 83 per cent of Manitobans either strongly support (57 per cent) or somewhat support (26 per cent) Manitoba joining other provinces to lobby against the increase.
“I think we all agree that pollution is expensive, and polluting shouldn’t be free,” Freeland said during the unrelated news conference. “I also think it’s really, really important to underline the facts… a Manitoba family of four is going to get $1,200 this year. That is meaningful support.”
She said provinces are open to work with the federal government to build their own unique systems for pricing pollution, taking a jab at Poilievre’s environmental strategy.
“We need to recognize that it is not an option to not have an environmental plan,” she said.
“One of the things that is really, really a threat for Canada, is we have the Conservatives out there criticizing the price on pollution without offering any climate plan of their own.”
The premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador have all urged Trudeau to forgo the planned increase, citing inflation and the rising cost of living.
In response, Trudeau told the provinces to come up with their own plans.
“Any province that wants to put forward a similarly robust way to fight climate change, but do it in a way that works for them, is more than welcome to,” Trudeau said at a news conference Wednesday in Vancouver.
During his speech in Winnipeg Poilievre said a Conservative government would bring in a law that protects the environment and respects First Nations, but he didn’t elaborate on the plan.
The federal NDP also took a shot at Poilievre ahead of his local appearance, alleging he’s spent his time in government lining the pockets of wealthy Canadians.
“Will Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre be honest with Winnipeggers about being the champion for the ultra-rich, or will he continue to pretend he’s in it for everyday people?” a Thursday news release said.
Halfway through rally, two men were escorted out of the event while chanting “ceasefire now” referring to the war in Gaza.
— with files from Malak Abas
Nicole Buffie
Multimedia producer
Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk.
