Poilievre: ’It’s time for government to start pinching pennies’

Published 04/22/2025, 12:26 PM
© Reuters.

Investing.com -- Canada’s Conservative Leader, Pierre Poilievre, unveiled his official election platform, emphasizing tax relief, deep spending cuts, and an aggressive housing plan. The document, titled “Change,” outlines a sharp fiscal departure from the governing Liberals.

At the plan’s core is a 15% reduction to the lowest personal income tax bracket—cutting it from 15% to 12.75%—which the party says will save average workers $900 annually and dual-income families up to $1,800. “A dollar left in the hands of the person who earned it is always better spent than a dollar in the hands of the politician who taxed it,” Poilievre said.

Housing forms another pillar of the platform, with a target to build 2.3 million new homes over five years. The Conservatives would eliminate the GST on new builds under $1.3 million and offer incentives to municipalities that cut development charges, potentially slashing $100,000 per home.

Poilievre vowed to repeal the federal carbon tax for all consumers and industries and cancel planned capital gains tax hikes when reinvested domestically. “We will repeal C-69, remove the energy cap, and unlock our energy production… for a change,” he said.

The platform commits to reducing the federal deficit by $14.2 billion by 2029, supported by $15.4 billion in new revenues and $9.8 billion in spending reductions. Key cuts include reductions to public sector consulting, foreign aid, and CBC English-language programming.

To enforce fiscal discipline, the plan introduces a “dollar-for-dollar” law requiring that all new spending be offset by equal or greater savings, $1.50 in this case. “Canadians have been pinching their pennies long enough—it’s time for government to start pinching pennies,” Poilievre added.

On public safety, the platform proposes a “three strikes” law for violent offenders, who would be automatically denied bail, parole, or house arrest. “Jail, not bail. Three strikes and you’re out,” he declared.

Conservatives also pledged 50,000 addiction treatment spaces and pledged to end cities’ encampments, calling for a shift from harm reduction to recovery. “We’re not going to give up on anyone. Help is on the way,” Poilievre said.

Defense and sovereignty measures include expanded Arctic infrastructure, new aircraft acquisitions, and meeting NATO’s 2% spending target by 2030. Veteran support would be enhanced through fast-tracked credentialing and trades placement programs.

The platform stands in stark contrast to the Liberal plan under Mark Carney, which Poilievre called even “more costly” than Justin Trudeau’s record. “This is a choice between a fourth Liberal term of debt, crime, and decline—or a Conservative plan to bring home the Canadian promise,” he said.

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