Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s only plan to combat the high cost of living is to stoke Canadians’ fears, encourage their anger and promise to cut programs that help make their lives better.
“His answer to everything is cuts and be angry,” Trudeau said Monday in Hamilton, Ont., where he was making a housing announcement.
“That’s not Canada. That’s not how we build a stronger future. That’s not how we’ve gotten through the challenging times we’ve had in the past.”
The prime minister criticized Poilievre for opposing the new federal dental care program. Trudeau said that program has allowed hundreds of thousands of families to send their children to the dentist for the first time.
“He chose to vote against, and to stand against and try to block … in the House, the delivering of dental care for vulnerable Canadians,” Trudeau said. “Why would you do that?”
Trudeau says Poilievre is ‘stirring up anger’ for political gain
During a housing announcement in Hamilton, the prime minister was asked whether he feels threatened by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s leadership. ‘We don’t solve problems by scaring people,’ Trudeau replied.
While the rate of inflation dropped from a June 2022 high of 8.1 per cent to 2.8 per cent in June 2023 — a rate well within the Bank of Canada’s desired 1 to 3 per cent range — the cost of living for many Canadians has remained high.
Food prices were up 8.3 per cent in June this year compared to the same month last year and the cost of shelter also increased that month by 4.8 per cent year over year.
And while it’s true that gas prices fell 21.6 per cent year over year in June, the Bank of Canada’s recent run of interest rate hikes to tame inflation contributed to a 30.1 per cent rise in the cost of servicing a mortgage.
Trudeau enabling cities to block housing: Poilievre
Since becoming leader of the Conservatives, Poilievre has attacked the Liberal government and Trudeau over efforts to rein in the cost of living.
A number of polls show the Conservatives’ lead over the Liberals widening. A reporter asked Trudeau Monday if he feels threatened by Poilievre’s leadership.
“No. What is of concern to us is the fact that there are so many people having trouble making ends meet,” Trudeau said. He was in Hamilton to announce his government would work with the city to build and repair 214 homes at a joint cost of $64 million.
“You don’t solve problems by scaring people, by stirring up anger,” Trudeau said. “He’s hoping that he’s going to be able to get votes out of it, but that’s not how you build a stronger economy.”
A spokesperson for Poilievre dismissed Trudeau’s housing announcement, insisting that Trudeau’s policies were enabling “local government gatekeepers” to “block housing construction.”
Citing remarks the Conservative leader made on June 9, the spokesperson said Poilievre would get rid of obstacles to building homes, balance the budget, bring down inflation and help ensure housing is affordable.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
