Five key takeaways from Pierre Poilievre’s interview with Evan Bray

On Tuesday, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre joined The Evan Bray Show to discuss his stance on some key issues affecting Saskatchewan and the country.

Here are five takeaways from the interview.

Axe the carbon tax

When the Opposition leader was asked if he wants to keep the carbon tax, he simply said “no.”

Poilievre said his approach will be the exact reverse of the current NDP and Liberal Party’s stance on the tax.

“They want to raise the price on the traditional energy we still need, (but) I want to lower the cost of emissions-free alternatives,” he told Bray.

Poilievre said that means fast-tracking the safe approval of nuclear power using Saskatchewan’s supply of uranium.

He said it would provide business opportunities for companies like Cameco, and surrounding communities in the province.

Poilievre added the carbon tax also has a hand in driving up the cost of food prices in Saskatchewan, because of the costs producers face as well as truckers who ship the food.

Bill C-21

Poilievre said he wants to reverse Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ban on firearms for individuals like hunters or law-abiding sport shooters.

This is in relation to Bill C-21, the legislation that aims to tighten gun laws and freeze the sale or purchase of handguns in Canada.

Poilievre explained those who have a possession and acquisition licence need to be vetted by the RCMP and are “the least likely people to commit a crime.”

“Devoting billions of dollars to targeting these people is an enormous waste of our public safety resources and our police time,” he said.

Poilievre said he wants to invest that money into reinforcing Canada’s border with law enforcement to keep illegal guns out of the country.

Jail not bail

Poilievre explained he also wants to tackle issues within the justice system, especially when it comes to repeat violent offenders.

“In Vancouver, police had to arrest the same 40 violent offenders 6,000 times in one year,” he said, adding it costs the government more money for criminals to be rearrested and remanded.

“By just keeping them in jail, we eliminate those costs,” he said.

The Opposition leader said he wants to make repeat violent offenders ineligible for bail, and make it harder for convicted criminals to be eligible for parole or house arrest.

He suggests that violent offenders should not be out of jail until their sentence is complete.

Poilievre added he also wants to reverse Trudeau’s decriminalization and tax funding of hard drugs.

“We need to give people treatment and recovery to bring them home drug free,” he told Bray, adding that would be funded by suing drug companies.

According to the Conservative Party website, a government run by Poilievre will publicly join the B.C. lawsuit against big pharma and its consultants to cover the cost of health care, and launch a federal lawsuit against big pharma and its consultants to cover costs of the criminal justice system, lost federal tax revenue and to expand treatment programs for those struggling with addiction.

CP’s Newsmaker of the Year

The Conservative Party leader was chosen as The Canadian Press’s 2023 Newsmaker of the Year, which is voted on by editors across the country.

When asked if he was proud to receive the title, Poilievre replied: “I don’t really care, to be honest.”

“CP has been attacking me for the last year; they’re basically Justin Trudeau’s favourite news outlet,” he said. “It’s clear that I’ve been dominating the agenda, because what I’m saying reflects what people think.”

He reiterated his plans to cut taxes to reward hard-working Canadians, axe taxes to bring down costs, balance budgets to bring down interest rates, and unlock the production of Canadian resources.

“Now, Trudeau is forced to respond to my agenda because he sees everywhere he goes that people agree with my common-sense approach,” he said.

Conservative Christmas

Poilievre said the holidays are becoming a lot more fun because his two-year-old son, Cruz, is starting to realize what Christmas is and is learning about Santa Claus, and is excited for Santa to come down the chimney with his presents.

Poilievre said his family will be putting out cookies the night before Christmas.

“Our little guy is getting very excited because this is the first time he’s old enough to understand the Christmas folklore,” Poilievre said.

He added he’ll also be getting outside this holiday season with his five-year-old daughter, Valentina, to go skating and tobogganing.

“She loves the snow,” he said.