Poilievre’s speech to Conservatives focuses on message of ‘hope’ for Canadians who have lost theirs

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Quebec – Students walking down safe streets to class. The distant noise of yet another house being built. A young couple sitting on the front porch of their home, soaking up the sun with a cold drink in one hand and a hard-earned paycheque in the other.

For the first time since he took the helm of the party nearly a year ago, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre painted a clear picture of what he means by his  new slogan “Bring It Home.”

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Poilievre delivered a lengthy speech Friday night in front of more than 2,500 Conservative delegates meeting in Quebec City for their party’s convention. It was Poilievre’s first convention as leader, and the first for hundreds of young people who have recently joined the party compelled by his message on the rising cost of living and the growing inability among younger generations to afford home ownership.

Poilievre’s wife, Anaida Poilievre, introduced the leader, greeted by a standing ovation and the cries of the couple’s youngest, two-year old Cruz. “He wants to be with his mommy,” she said.

She noted that she was on a similar stage almost a year ago when Poilievre was elected leader, and joked about the fact that to this day only in Quebec do people know how to pronounce “Poilievre” correctly.

In a more serious tone, she talked about noticing a growing anger in the country, but insisted that it can be explained because many people are currently hurting and afraid.

“When someone shows their pain and fear, it’s not the time to turn your backs on them,” she said.

Anaida Poilievre described her husband as a hard-working politician who studies issues long and hard when the cameras are not rolling. That, she said, is how he predicted the current inflation crisis that other leaders and central bankers had dismissed. She mentioned

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When Pierre Poilievre followed on stage, with a tie and jacket, but without glasses, members rose to another another standing ovation, and chanted “Bring It Home.”

“I remember the first time I saw Ana, more than 10 years ago. For a few seconds, I could not even breathe,” Poilievre said in his opening remarks. “‘Who is she?’ I wondered. People are asking themselves the same question tonight. Why is this beautiful Quebecer (married to) a squarehead who lost his glasses?”

Poilievre used the speech to frame what he said will be the choice in the next election, whenever that might come: a “common-sense” Conservative government or a “reckless coalition” of the Liberals and the NDP that punishes work, takes your money and allows crime to proliferate.

“It’s the choice between a country where people who work hard can realize their dreams or a country where the government divides between good and bad Canadians,” he said in French.

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Poilievre asked the crowd to think back to the pre-Trudeau times, eight years ago. He said that inflation and interest rates were rock bottom, taxes were low and the budget was balanced. And despite a financial crisis, wars in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine, inflation was low.

“Thank you, Stephen Harper,” he said, referring to the former Conservative prime minister, a line greeted by loud cheers from the crowd.

Poilievre then turned his wrath to Justin Trudeau, noting that the prime minister recently said in a cabinet retreat in Charlottetown that “it is a really tough time… to be a politician.” The Conservative leader mocked the prime minister’s comment, and proceeded to give examples of Canadians who he said are having a genuinely tough time.

Poilievre shared the story of a 74-year-old retired trucker who, facing eviction despite always paying his rent, is being forced to consider moving into his daughter’s basement. And of a carpenter he met at Tim Hortons who he said lives in a parking lot because he cannot afford to pay rent.

But his speech focused heavily on young people, those he said who have given up on saving up for a home and would like to have children but are running out of time and have no place to raise kids in a small apartment. Many, he said, are working multiple jobs just to house themselves.

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“The youth aren’t angry. They are too exhausted to be angry,” he said.

“Canadians are not small or angry. They are big and generous people. They deserve better than this,” he continued. “They should no longer have to give up the things we always took for granted — like affordable homes and food — to pay for the incompetence and ego of one man.”

“After eight years, Justin Trudeau is not worth the cost and not worth the country we know and love.”

Poilievre reiterated his promises to cap government spending and to adopt a dollar-for-dollar law that would force the government to find a dollar of savings for each new dollar of spending. He said he would end bonuses for government executives and enforce the Bank of Canada’s long-standing mandate to exclusively focus on keeping inflation low, rather than pursuing other outcomes.

On housing, Poilievre spoke again about his plan to link federal municipal transfers to the number of new homes that get built, and his plan to sell off thousands of federally owned buildings.

On the environment, Poilievre said he would increase Canadian production of emissions-free energy by green-lighting new projects including carbon capture and hydro dams, and granting permits for natural gas export plants to replace polluting sources of energy overseas.

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Poilievre finished his speech on a theme he’s explored before: what he said are “so-called” ordinary people that he considers “extraordinary.”

He spoke of a single mother who works all day, goes home tired, teaches math to her children and still manages to balance her family budget; a farmer who makes food grow and brings it to people’s plates; and an electrician who can light up people’s homes.

“Yet these extraordinary people feel like strangers in their own country. With how horribly things have changed and with the prime minister working so hard to erase our memories, it’s easy to forget how good life was and how good it can be,” he said.

“Hope is what Canadians need now more than ever.”

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