Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre hammered away at cost-of-living issues during a summer barbecue event in south Edmonton on Monday evening, telling a crowd of several hundred people that his team now has three priorities: “Affordability, affordability and affordability.”
Affordability takes centre stage
The topic has become the tip of the Conservatives’ spear in recent weeks and echoes cost-focused messaging that has been a mainstay for the party since Poilievre became leader in 2022. Days before the Edmonton event, the leader reorganized his shadow cabinet and dubbed it the “affordability team.”
Poilievre said his party is pushing for cuts to government consultants, foreign aid, corporate welfare, and “phony refugees” in order to bring down federal taxes. The industrial carbon tax, GST for used cars, and all gasoline taxes for the rest of the year are also on the chopping block for Conservatives, Poilievre added.
Edmonton MP echoes affordability concerns
Edmonton Gateway MP and Conservative Deputy Leader Tim Uppal said the cabinet’s focus matches what he is hearing in Edmonton. “Here in Edmonton, affordability is the number one issue. People just aren’t able to make ends meet. Pay cheques are the same, but their expenses have gone up so much higher,” he said.
Poilievre was in Edmonton the same day Conservatives criticized the Liberals for not making good on promises meant to cool rising oil prices. The federal government said in March that Canada would supply markets with 23.6 million extra barrels of oil, as other countries agreed to release from their stockpiles. The Conservatives said the Liberals have yet to do so. “As the conflict in the Middle East skyrocketed the price of oil, Canadians were looking for action that would deliver affordability,” an earlier Monday statement from Conservative energy critic Carol Anstey said.
Unity and firearms policy
Outside of affordability, Poilievre’s speech also fired shots at the Liberal firearms recall program and applauded the provincial government’s move to defy it. The event comes as many political leaders are fresh off appearances at the Calgary Stampede. Poilievre said he still had his “stampede boots” on while in Edmonton. Many of his talking points also matched a speech made days prior in Calgary, including his stance against Alberta separatism.
He backed federalism again in the province’s capital, telling the crowd he believes in a “stronger Alberta, within a united Canada.” Despite the party leader’s position, some Conservative voters in Edmonton are doubting federalism. Separatist demonstrators gathered on a residential street nearby, where blue signs stood saying: “Send Ottawa a message. Choose Alberta.” The barbecue’s location was the site for a separation event just months prior. “Pierre Poilievre just doesn’t want to give us a choice; he’s just a federalist,” Jason LaFace said at the demonstration just down the road from the barbecue.
