Politics

Too early to say how Conservatives would balance budget, Poilievre says

Published

10 months ago

November 21, 2023

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.

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Politics

New Brunswick election candidate profile: Green Party Leader David Coon

Published

5 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

FREDERICTON – A look at David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick:

Born: Oct. 28, 1956.

Early years: Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, he spent about three decades as an environmental advocate.

Education: A trained biologist, he graduated with a bachelor of science from McGill University in Montreal in 1978.

Family: He and his wife Janice Harvey have two daughters, Caroline and Laura.

Before politics: Worked as an environmental educator, organizer, activist and manager for 33 years, mainly with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

Politics: Joined the Green Party of Canada in May 2006 and was elected leader of the New Brunswick Green Party in September 2012. Won a seat in the legislature in 2014 — a first for the province’s Greens.

Quote: “It was despicable. He’s clearly decided to take the low road in this campaign, to adopt some Trump-lite fearmongering.” — David Coon on Sept. 12, 2024, reacting to Blaine Higgs’s claim that the federal government had decided to send 4,600 asylum seekers to New Brunswick.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Politics

New Brunswick election profile: Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs

Published

5 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

FREDERICTON – A look at Blaine Higgs, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.

Born: March 1, 1954.

Early years: The son of a customs officer, he grew up in Forest City, N.B., near the Canada-U.S. border.

Education: Graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1977.

Family: Married his high-school sweetheart, Marcia, and settled in Saint John, N.B., where they had four daughters: Lindsey, Laura, Sarah and Rachel.

Before politics: Hired by Irving Oil a week after he graduated from university and was eventually promoted to director of distribution. Worked for 33 years at the company.

Politics: Elected to the legislature in 2010 and later served as finance minister under former Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward. Elected Tory leader in 2016 and has been premier since 2018.

Quote: “I’ve always felt parents should play the main role in raising children. No one is denying gender diversity is real. But we need to figure out how to manage it.” — Blaine Higgs in a year-end interview in 2023, explaining changes to school policies about gender identity.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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Politics

Climate, food security, Arctic among Canada’s intelligence priorities, Ottawa says

Published

5 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.

The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.

The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.

Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.

Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.

The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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