OTTAWA — Conservative leadership contenders faced each other in debate for the first time at the Shaw Conference Centre in Ottawa as part of the Canada Strong and Free Network conference. Patrick Brown was the only candidate to miss the debate. Here are some key quotes from Jean Charest, Roman Baber, Scott Aitchison, Leslyn Lewis and Pierre Poilievre.
“The consistency of our message is absolutely crucial. We need to put together a principled Conservative platform that resonates with all Canadians in all parts of the country, and then we need to be consistent with that. We have to work together as a team. And until we can work together as a team Canadians are not going to trust us.” — Scott Aitchison on why Conservatives lost the last few elections
“We lost the last two elections because many Canadians weren’t sure where we stand. We should not be running to the right during leadership and running to the left during the general.” — Roman Baber on why Conservatives lost the last few elections
“The results and the outcomes speaks for itself. One thing that we have to be clear on, in the next campaign and the next leader, is that we welcome new Canadians. They are part of the family. They are welcome and they are Canadians, period. But those who were part of that campaign and proposed this idea need to account for that.” — Jean Charest on the Conservatives 2015 barbaric hotline campaign promise
“Mr. Pierre Poilievre has ran from the media the last few days because he doesn’t want to declare whether he’s pro-life or pro-choice. As a leader he is going to have to declare that. He cannot just be a minister of finance if he wants to be a prime minister. He is going to have to deal with social Conservative issues, which he has been running from this entire campaign.” — Leslyn Lewis on her stance on abortion.
“I did go to the trucker protests, both on Parliament Hill and in my community. I was on the street. I was supporting those who were fighting for their freedoms. In fact, I opposed the vaccine mandates as soon as they were announced.” — Pierre Poilievre on his opposition to COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.
“I come from the former Soviet Union. I know what democracy is all about and I know how precious our democracy is. And the fact that the Conservative movement failed to stand up for democracy is something that is going to remain with us for a generation.” — Baber on COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.
“Every time I hear a Conservative talking about some conspiracy theory, I realize that there’s another group of swing voters in the GTA that just are not going to come our way. Because all we do is yell and scream at each other. We’re witnessing it now. I actually like all these people in this table, around this dais as well, they’re good folks. And here we are calling each other names. What Canadian is going to trust this lot? We’ve got to do better.” — Aitchison on winning votes in Ontario.
“We have a weather advantage because liquefied natural gas is a process of cooling it down. What do we have in Canada? Cold weather. It is our most abundant natural resource. So Let’s cool it down, turn it into liquid, send it overseas, sell it and turn dollars for dictators into paychecks for our people.” — Poilievre on his plan for natural gas production.
“I stand with a record as a Conservative all my life. I’ll give you an example. I believe in fiscal conservatism, the Liberal government that succeeded me, Mr. Couillard that followed, left an $8-billion surplus after 15 years to Mr. Legault. $8 billion. You’re not going to see that in your lifetime again.” — Charest on allegations that he is a Liberal.
“Our charter needs to be defended. Parents have a right to raise their children in accordance with their values, and I will introduce a parental rights bill to stop government encroachment on parental rights.” — Leslyn Lewis in her closing arguments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2022
Laura Osman, The Canadian Press
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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