Poilievre challenges Liberals on cost of living in question period debut
Making his question period debut in the House of Commons, Official Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre focused in on the cost of living and the government’s handling of inflation.
Speaking in French, the new Conservative leader asked whether the Liberals would cancel planned “tax increases”—referencing scheduled hikes to the Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance premiums— saying "Canadians just aren't able to pay."
Fielding the Liberals’ response—as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in New York attending the UN General Assembly— was associate Minister of Finance and Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault.
"Throughout the session, you will see two competing visions: our plan as a government to support Canadians who needed the most and then the other option, the vision of the Conservative Party and members who don't care about Canadians," he offered, in French.
The first chance for Trudeau and Poilievre to square off will likely come on Thursday.
While Trudeau congratulated Poilievre when MPs gathered last week in the House for tributes to Queen Elizabeth II, the two haven't locked horns as across-the-aisle adversaries since Poilievre handily won the months-long Conservative leadership race on Sept. 10, though for years Poilievre has been on of the party's leading Liberal critics in the House.
As question period carried on, Poilievre continued down this line of inquiry, highlighting the impacts rising costs of groceries, gas, and housing are having on Canadians. In asking the Liberals what they're doing to help people pay their bills, he suggested the higher CPP and EI premiums “shrink paycheques.”
In response, the Liberals pointed to a pair of bills tabled on Tuesday meant to offer affordability assistance to low-to-modest income families through a GST rebate boost, and dental and housing benefits.
To this, Poilievre suggested these targeted aid measures would be "vaporized by inflation." In a later quip, Boissonnault suggested what was "vaporized" was savings from any Canadians who took Poilievre's cryptocurrency investment advice.
Ahead of question period, some Conservative MPs used time allocated to allow them to deliver similarly-worded statements to testify to what they say the new Conservative leader will do, claiming that will be putting "people first."
MPs from other parties made other predictions, as they were asked throughout the day how they think Poilievre's leadership may change the tone in the House.
"It is clear that his priorities are very different. He has shown a pattern since he was in government, since he was minister, to present—where he's sided with wealthy CEOs, opposing the idea of making them pay their fair share… he's voted against minimum salaries," NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters on Tuesday.
In making this remark, Singh was essentially repeating the message in a new attack ad the NDP have rolled out on social media against their fellow opposition party leader.
Government House Leader Mark Holland said he's waiting to see whether Poilievre will continue down the political path he pursued during the Conservative leadership race.
"If you know, there’s a continuance of the circus, then, you know, we’ll have to see who will buy tickets. But I don’t think that’s what people want," he said.
PANDEMIC, GUN CONTROL COME UP
The opening of the fall sitting of the House fell on the one-year anniversary of the 2021 federal election.
On Sept. 20, 2021 Trudeau vowed to get “back to work,” after taking a gamble and being dealt a second minority government that looked much like the one Canadians elected in 2019. While the makeup in the House remains the same, a lot has shifted politically.
Vaccine mandates were one of the key issues that the Liberals fought the last election on, and on Tuesday as MPs filtered in to West Block ahead of question period, they were faced with a small contingent of anti-vaccine protestors echoing messages elevated to the national stage for weeks on end during this winter's "Freedom Convoy" protests in the capital.
While the rules around requiring vaccinations have largely been lifted, the House of Commons remains under a hybrid sitting structure, with questions circulating as to whether its time for these pandemic precautions to also become a thing of the past.
On Tuesday, Holland said as the Procedure and House Affairs Committee begins its deliberations over what worked and what didn't with the mixed virtual and in-person sitting structure, there is a recognition among MPs that Canada is returning to some sense of normality.
"We have to take this one cautious step at a time, following the science and evidence, and doing our utmost to keep people safe," Holland said. "We don’t know where it’s going to go. I’m hopeful, but not clairvoyant. And you know, I don’t have the ability to see the future. I just have the ability to analyze facts in real time and try to make the most appropriate decision. And that’s what we’re trying to do."
Another election issue still playing itself out in Ottawa, is the Liberals' promise of further gun control measures. There's an outstanding piece of government legislation that Holland says the Liberals will be prioritizing this fall.
Bill C-21 seeks to further restrict legal access to handguns in Canada, and create systems to flag individuals who may pose a risk to themselves or others. The bill would also increase the maximum penalties to 14 years from 10 for firearm-related offences such as smuggling, make it an offence to alter a cartridge magazine beyond its lawful capacity and prohibit certain replica firearms that closely resemble real guns.
Since its introduction, advocates both for and against the firearms bill have shared mixed reactions to the proposed law. During the summer the Liberals used a regulatory work around to ban the importation of restricted handguns ahead of the bill becoming law.
Asked Tuesday how the minority Liberals plan to get this bill through amid Conservative pushback, Holland said they plan to move quickly because while they "want to be respectful of the fact that we want rigorous debate to occur in the House… Canadians expect action."
One party seemingly ready to help back the passage of this legislation is the Bloc Quebecois, who led off their first round during question period with MP Alain Therrien saying he was glad to be back in the House "because we really need to talk about guns," citing an uptick in shootings in Montreal.
While Poilievre's question period debut focused on inflation, his first remarks in the House on Tuesday were focused on crime, as he participated in a series of statements from each party on the James Smith Cree Nation mass murder in Saskatchewan earlier this month.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Local Spotlight
Twin Alberta Ballet dancers retire after 15 years with company
Alberta Ballet's double-bill production of 'Der Wolf' and 'The Rite of Spring' marks not only its final show of the season, but the last production for twin sisters Alexandra and Jennifer Gibson.
B.C. mayor stripped of budget, barred from committees over Indigenous residential schools book
A British Columbia mayor has been censured by city council – stripping him of his travel and lobbying budgets and removing him from city committees – for allegedly distributing a book that questions the history of Indigenous residential schools in Canada.
Three Quebec men from same family father hundreds of children
Three men in Quebec from the same family have fathered more than 600 children.
Here's how one of Sask.'s largest power plants was knocked out for 73 days, and what it took to fix it
A group of SaskPower workers recently received special recognition at the legislature – for their efforts in repairing one of Saskatchewan's largest power plants after it was knocked offline for months following a serious flood last summer.
Quebec police officer anonymously donates kidney, changes schoolteacher's life
A police officer on Montreal's South Shore anonymously donated a kidney that wound up drastically changing the life of a schoolteacher living on dialysis.
Canada's oldest hat store still going strong after 90 years
Since 1932, Montreal's Henri Henri has been filled to the brim with every possible kind of hat, from newsboy caps to feathered fedoras.
Road closed in Oak Bay, B.C., so elephant seal can cross
Police in Oak Bay, B.C., had to close a stretch of road Sunday to help an elephant seal named Emerson get safely back into the water.
B.C. breweries take home awards at World Beer Cup
Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.