In Gander, Poilievre encourages rally attendees to pressure MPs over carbon tax hike

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, received a warm reception in Gander on Wednesday night. (David Newell/CBC)

Pierre Poilievre found a receptive crowd in Gander, N.L., willing to join his anti-carbon tax battle.

The Conservative leader stopped in central Newfoundland on Wednesday for a speaking engagement that attracted about 100 people from the area.

He touched on many of his anti-Liberal points during his 40-minute engagement, with an impending increase to the carbon tax in his crosshairs.

"The good news is life was not like this before Trudeau and it won't be like this after he's gone," he said. "We're here with a common-sense plan to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime."

Poilievre greets supporters following his speech. (David Newell/CBC)

Poilievre's talk was scheduled weeks ago and had been promoted by the Gander and Area Snowmobile Club. It was later rebranded as a meeting with "trail users" but also featured many local party faithful as well as people from throughout central Newfoundland.

Poilievre says the carbon tax is punishing families, farmers, fishermen and factories.

"It's driving production out of our country and it's driving Canadians to go hungry," he told the attentive audience.

Members of Parliament will have a chance to vote against this increase next week, he said, and he urged those in attendance to contact Liberal representatives. Cutting the tax would lower the cost of domestically produced crops and in turn grains and livestock-based meals, he said.

"It's going to be a big vote next week and a lot of money depends on it," he said. "So that is our first priority."

Reg Cooze of Hare Bay says Canada is ready for new leadership. (Troy Turner/CBC)

For seniors such as Reg Cooze, who drove in from Hare Bay, 65 kilometres away, to attend the rally, change is needed, he said.

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"Every time you go to the gas pumps, you know, you can barely afford it. When one time it cost you $50, now it will cost you $150 to fill up the tank," he said.

"You've got to have somebody to stand up, you know, and fight for us.… I come from a strong family of Liberals too, over the years, and what-have-you, but I've seen it myself especially over the past few years. I think they've got to go and somebody new got to come in."

His wife Margaret agrees.

"Things got to be better that what it is. Cut some taxes, give us old-age pensioners something more than old-age pension."

Badger teen Logan Elliott has never voted but likes what he hears from Poilievre. (Troy Turner/CBC)

Logan Elliott, 17, drove about 125 kilometres from Badger to attend the event. He said he likes what he hears from Poilievre.

"I think it's great. Great to see a lot of people out here supporting common sense," he said. "We need more people working hard.… A lot of people are home like they don't want to work, they don't want to go get a job."

Two years ago, Darlene Collins became mayor of Hare Bay, population 900 or so. She says the Liberal government is not looking out for the people in communities such as hers.

"It kind of feels like we've been hijacked," she said. "Canada is not Canada anymore. I'm 51 years old and Canada is not what it was even when I was a little girl."

Hare Bay mayor Darlene Collins attended Poillievre speaking event. (Troy Turner/CBC)

She says decisions such as the proposed hike in the carbon tax are hurting people.

"It's going to make changes to people's just eating habits, quite frankly. I know those people now that have to decide whether or not they're going to buy a can of milk or they're going to put it on their light bill. So when we're in that kind of dire straits, there's something that's majorly wrong.

"We're Newfoundlanders, we're common folk, we know each other, we want to help everybody. And Pierre Poilievre  is the epitome of common sense and the everyday person."

During the event, Poilievre also talked about helping Canadians build affordable homes, clamping down on crime, curbing what he calls a transfer of wealth from working-class people and seniors to the very wealthy, making government employees and politicians more accountable, and rewarding tradespeople through tax incentives.

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