Pierre Poilievre says it’s way too early for him to provide details on how a Conservative government would go about balancing the federal budget.
As MPs returned to the House of Commons today after a week-long break, Poilievre chastised a journalist who asked, during a news conference, at what point a prospective Conservative government would present a balanced budget.
“I find it very funny when the media asks us how much time would it take to clean up the mess the Liberals created,” Poilievre said.
“We will read all the numbers, the real numbers, before the elections and will present a plan to Canadians to balance the budget, and reduce inflation and interest rates. Obviously, it’s absolutely impossible to say which deficit there will be.”
By that, Poilievre said, given the election is two years away, it could have substantially increased by then, meaning any plan announced now would be off target with that future figure.
“I will look at all the numbers and make promises that I will be able to hold.”
But Poilievre said he will have an opportunity to deliver on those promises, noting the next election will be held on carbon pricing policy.
“There will be an election on the carbon tax. It will be a great referendum, a huge referendum. That will be the next election. I will win and I will eliminate the carbon tax.”
The Conservatives have been running far ahead of the governing Liberals in public-opinion polls, raising questions about the policies they would pursue if they come to power in the next election, now scheduled for 2025.
The federal Liberal government will be detailing their own view of the country’s finances on Tuesday as Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presents an economic statement – the first update of federal finances since the March federal budget.
As deputy Ottawa editor Bill Curry reports here, the federal government, since the budget, has reached new labour agreements with public sector unions, announced billions in industrial subsidies related to the electric vehicle sector and expanded federal housing programs.
