Canada’s Trudeau hits out at new Conservative leader Poilievre

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says ‘buzzwords, canine whistles and careless assaults don’t add as much as a plan for Canadians’.

Justin Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Pierre Poilievre on his election as the brand new Conservative Social gathering chief, however mentioned his Liberal Social gathering will name out 'extremely questionable, reckless financial concepts' [File: Carlos Osorio/Reuters]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criticised the brand new chief of the opposition Conservative Social gathering, saying Pierre Poilievre’s rhetoric and coverage positions, together with on the economic system, don't quantity to “accountable management”.

Talking to reporters on Monday afternoon, Trudeau congratulated Poilievre on his victory and mentioned his governing Liberals would proceed to work with lawmakers throughout social gathering strains when Canada’s Parliament resumes subsequent week.

“However this doesn’t imply that we’re not going to be calling out extremely questionable, reckless financial concepts. What Canadians want is accountable management,” Trudeau mentioned.

“Buzzwords, canine whistles and careless assaults don’t add as much as a plan for Canadians. Attacking the establishments that make our society honest, secure and free just isn't accountable management.

“Combating in opposition to vaccines that saved thousands and thousands of lives, that’s not accountable management. Opposing the assist and investments which have helped save jobs, companies and households throughout the pandemic, that’s not accountable management.”

Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada's Conservative Party
Pierre Poilievre was elected chief of Canada’s Conservative Social gathering on Saturday [Patrick Doyle/Reuters]

Poilievre, a right-wing populist and profession politician who has been a parliament member for the reason that mid-2000s, was elected as the brand new head of the Conservative Social gathering of Canada on Saturday.

The Ottawa-area MP has opposed coronavirus vaccine mandates, backed anti-vaccine convoy protesters who occupied the Canadian capital earlier this 12 months, and questioned the independence of the Financial institution of Canada.

Poilievre has additionally forged himself as a defender of working-class Canadians, slamming Trudeau for hovering inflation – which he has dubbed “JustinFlation” – and authorities spending throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Proper now, now we have individuals who can’t afford to pay for his or her children’ meals … Now we have numerous younger adults nonetheless dwelling of their dad and mom’ basements, caught in small residences,” the brand new chief mentioned throughout a Conservative caucus assembly on Monday.

Poilievre additionally issued a “problem” to Trudeau, whose Liberals reached a deal with the left-leaning New Democratic Social gathering in March to prop up their minority authorities till 2025, asking him to decide to freezing any new tax will increase, particularly for staff and seniors.

“There shall be no compromise on this level – Conservatives is not going to assist any new tax will increase and we are going to combat tooth-and-nail to cease the coalition from introducing any,” he mentioned.

However regardless of his rhetoric, the Canadian Union of Public Staff (CUPE), the nation’s largest union with 700,000 members nationwide, has mentioned Poilievre “shall be a catastrophe for working individuals”.

“Pierre is a profession politician who has been amassing a six-figure wage on the general public’s dime since he was 24, and he’s spent each minute of his time in workplace combating in opposition to honest wages, good pensions and a greater life for working individuals,” Mark Hancock, CUPE nationwide president, mentioned in a assertion on Saturday.

“He isn't a employee, and he undoubtedly doesn’t get what it means to be a member of the working class.”

Whereas earlier Conservative leaders have shifted again to the centre after profitable the social gathering’s high submit in an try to take votes from the Liberals basically elections, one skilled lately instructed Al Jazeera that she anticipated Poilievre to go “full steam forward”.

However a doable pivot could possibly be in direction of being extra particular on his concepts, mentioned Lori Turnbull, director of the College of Public Administration at Dalhousie College in Nova Scotia.

“As a result of he’s going to be chief of the opposition, he’s going to should say one thing in parliament, to ask the prime minister questions, and take up some legislative house that’s not about obscure concepts of freedom,” she mentioned.

Trudeau has seen his recognition drop for the reason that Liberals first swept to energy in 2015 underneath his management, and in latest months, he has turn into the main focus of right-wing anger over his authorities’s COVID-19 and financial insurance policies, amongst different issues.

An Abacus Information ballot from late July confirmed that 51 % of Canadians disapproved of the federal government’s file – the very best disapproval score since that vote seven years in the past.

After the Liberals did not get majorities within the final two federal elections, consultants have questioned whether or not Trudeau ought to keep on as social gathering chief, or whether or not he ought to step apart in favour of different Liberal MPs earlier than the following vote.

However the Toronto Star newspaper reported final week that Trudeau knowledgeable his cupboard that he intends to guide the social gathering within the subsequent contest.

The Canadian Parliament will resume on September 20.

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