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Conservatives Present Three Demands in Anticipation of Ottawa’s Budget Announcement


Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has outlined his party’s demands ahead of the April 16 federal budget announcement. These demands include the elimination of the carbon tax, the adoption of a Tory motion on housing, and a cap on government spending.

“These demands are based on common sense, and if they are not met, we will not support the budget,” stated Mr. Poilievre during a press conference on April 7.

The Conservative leader emphasized the need for the Liberals to reverse policies that have negatively impacted the middle and working class in the upcoming budget. One of their demands is the passage of Tory Bill C-234, which aims to exempt farm fuel from the federal carbon tax for grain drying and barn heating.

Additionally, Mr. Poilievre called for cities to allow 15 percent more housing competition each year in exchange for federal funding. He also proposed a cap on spending, requiring the government to find one new dollar of savings for every new dollar of spending, policies that he had previously suggested.

The Conservative leader also urged the prime minister to engage in discussions with provincial premiers regarding the federal carbon tax, a policy that seven premiers have opposed. Despite opposition, Mr. Trudeau has remained steadfast in his support of the tax, suggesting that premiers could propose alternative plans to reduce carbon emissions if they are against the tax.

“If Justin Trudeau is confident in his plan to increase the carbon tax to 61 cents a litre, he should be willing to explain it to our premiers face-to-face,” remarked Mr. Poilievre.

Pre-Budget Announcements

In preparation for budget day, Mr. Trudeau and several cabinet members have been unveiling a series of initiatives related to affordability.

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Some of these initiatives focus on housing and rental affordability, including the introduction of a new “bill of rights” for renters. Moreover, there is an additional $15 billion earmarked in the upcoming budget for the Apartment Construction Loan Program and $600 million in loans and funding to streamline and reduce the cost of building homes.

During an announcement about $2.4 billion in extra funding for artificial intelligence on April 7, the prime minister criticized Mr. Poilievre, accusing him of advocating for “austerity and cuts” and causing concerns among Canadians about government spending.



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