For the first time since the federal election was called in March, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre was on the Hill to face Prime Minister Mark Carney in question period.
Poilievre was noticeably absent from the House in the spring legislative session after failing to win his riding of Carleton in the federal election. After winning a byelection in Battle River—Crowfoot last month, the Opposition leader is back.
“My mother taught me never to be late, so please forgive me for my late arrival to the session,” he said, thanking Carney for calling a prompt race.
“I wonder if one day he might regret that decision.”
Carney, for his part, welcomed Poilievre back and pointed out that “a few things have changed since he was here last,” citing a “spirit of collaboration” from the spring legislative sitting.
During the brief spring sitting after the federal election, the Liberals leaned on the Conservatives to pass Carney’s hallmark major projects Bill C-5.
While Poilievre has expressed a willingness to co-operate with the government on dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump and the trade war, he’s urged the Liberals to go further on files like immigration and crime in recent days. The shift in messaging has the minority government treading carefully in its search for support, particularly for Carney’s first budget.
Poilievre, for his part, countered that not much had changed, saying there is still a Liberal prime minister “breaking promises, making excuses, running massive deficits with costs, crime and chaos out of control.”
“When will the prime minister match the grand promises with the real change Canadians need?” he asked, specifically targeting the economy and accusing Carney of walking back on his word.
Carney appeared amused with Poilievre’s questions, noting that the Conservative leader “was busy” the last few months and missed the work the federal government has done since they were elected, including the Liberals’ income tax cut, the launch of Build Canada Homes and investments in defence.
“I think if we are going to build the strongest economy in the G7, and we will, we need to be clear about the scale of the crisis we are in. We need to be clear about the scale of investment that we need,” the prime minister retorted.
The one thing the pair could agree on? The “sentiment” of Poilievre’s first question asking if the Liberals agree that Canada should be a place “where hard work is rewarded, where food and homes are affordable, where streets are safe, where borders are solid, and where we're all united under a proud flag.”
— With files from Palak Mangat
