Commonwealth_ As the federal election campaign nears its final week, Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre made a strategic campaign stop in Surrey, British Columbia, early Easter Sunday morning. Speaking to supporters at a local grocery store, Poilievre reinforced his party’s key messages around tackling inflation, reducing government spending, and reversing what he describes as harmful economic policies implemented by the Liberal government.
Accompanied by Conservative candidates from Surrey and the wider Metro Vancouver area, Poilievre emphasized the financial pressures faced by Canadians due to rising inflation and the increasing cost of living. His campaign message continued to draw attention to these economic challenges to the fiscal decisions made by the Liberal leadership, now under Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England.
Poilievre used the campaign event to draw further attention to Carney’s previous tenure at the Bank of England, asserting that the former central banker bears responsibility for high inflation rates in the United Kingdom.
In outlining his economic agenda, Poilievre pledged that a Conservative government would take decisive action to curb inflation by cutting what he termed excessive federal spending. This would include a reduction in the size of the federal bureaucracy, a significant cut in foreign aid, and a $10 billion annual reduction in the use of government consultants. These measures, he argued, are intended to restore economic balance and redirect resources toward domestic priorities.
The Conservative leader also reaffirmed his party’s commitment to repealing what it refers to as “anti-development laws,” which they argue stifle economic growth and prevent the expansion of Canada’s energy sector. As part of this plan, the Conservatives aim to remove the cap on energy production, eliminate the industrial carbon tax, and expedite the approval of ten high-priority resource development projects. According to the party, these initiatives are essential for job creation and ensuring Canada remains competitive in the global economy.
During his speech, Poilievre took direct aim at the Liberal Party’s recently released costed platform, which outlines $130 billion in new spending. He argued that the promises made by the Liberals represent a continuation of the kind of fiscal management that has led to inflation and economic instability. The Conservative campaign stated that the Liberal platform was both expensive and out of touch with the needs of ordinary Canadians.
While the Liberals under Mark Carney and the New Democratic Party (NDP) under Jagmeet Singh released their costed platforms on Saturday, April 19.
In addition to economic issues, Poilievre returned to familiar themes around public safety and national security. He reiterated the Conservative stance on law and order, promising a tougher approach to crime, enhanced border security, and stricter enforcement against repeat offenders.
As the campaign enters its final days, Poilievre’s Surrey appearance underscores the Conservative effort to solidify support in key battleground regions like Metro Vancouver. By focusing on inflation, government spending, and public safety, the Conservatives are aiming to draw a sharp contrast between their policy vision and that of their political rivals. The next several days will be critical as parties make their final appeals to voters ahead of election day.
