...Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre focused on affordability, opportunity and how he would govern in a critical primetime speech to delegates gathered at the party's national convention in Calgary.
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TRANSCRIPT
Mercu,
Merc, the love of my life, two beautiful
children, Valentina and Cruz. And most of all, thank you to the great
grassroots conservatives who work and unite here today. And welcome to my
hometown of Calgary. Conservatives
from all over the country. Who's who's excited to be in Calgary in January?
We're tough. We can take it. A little bit of regional advice for Atlantic friends. Try the steak, not the seafood.
For those of you from the eastern prairies, sorry to block your view with the mountains. To our friends in
Toronto, enjoy your time outside of the center of the universe. I love seeing so many conservatives in
one place, but it must freak the Liberals out enough to invoke the Emergencies Act.
But truly, it's great to be home in the beating heart of the West. A land filled with
treasure. A land of oil and honey.
The place that taught me my great values. Opportunity as big as the sky.
Where a handshake and a word is a man's bond. and where a hard day's work is its
own sermon. My parents taught me the value of a dollar here in Calgary. My mother could sure stretch one. She's
here over there and u she could stretch a dollar, that's for sure.
My mother My mother was one of those people who would literally drive clear across town to use one of those coupons
to save half price on breakfast. And my dad would have me up at 5 in the morning to deliver newspapers.
We weren't uh rich, but life was good. That was the deal. Work hard, start
anywhere, get anywhere. That's what the country promised us all. A hopeful life,
a safe home, a full table, a family you love, a flag that united.
That's the country that we love.
call it the Canadian promise, the deal. The professors might call it the social
contract. And the people have kept their part of that bargain, working hard, spending
less, following the rules. But unfortunately, the government has
not kept its part of the bargain. Right now, as we gather, families are
struggling to do the math. Young people are wondering if they'll
ever have a job or a home. Worried parents are sitting at kitchen tables with empty fridges and empty bank
accounts. And seniors worry that their savings might not last as long as their
days. This Liberal government doesn't just leave people behind. It prices and shuts
out youth from homes, workers from jobs, and families from groceries. Simply put,
Canadians cannot afford life under the Liberal government. The
the government is literally the biggest item in a family budget today. takes up more money than food, clothing, and
shelter combined. The cost of government is driving up the cost of living. Taxes and record money printing deficits
are inflating everything. And it's no coincidence, therefore, that as the Liberal government doubled the debt,
housing costs and food bank lineups doubled at the very same time. Now, they
promised that all these deficits were going to lead to investments. You know, it's kind of like the old
magicians who said that they could turn lead into gold. But those deficits never became investments. In fact, Canada has
had the worst investment and the worst growth in the G7 over the last 10 years.
Amazingly, Canadian citizens, this is an incredible fact, Canadian citizens now
open more businesses in the United States of America than they do in their home country. That's elbows out.
And taxpayers spend more on federal debt interest than on health care. That's
more money for bond holders and bankers than for nurses and doctors. Liberal
laws have unleashed crime. Out of control, open borders. Immigration has overwhelmed health care, housing, and
job markets. Cancel culture and identity politics divide Canadians. Separatist
movements are reawakened. After 10 years of liberal rule, Canada is more costly
and crimeridden, dangerous and depended and divided than ever before. Now,
Mr. Carney, he promised to change all that. But here
we are a year later. You know what's changed? Sure, the words have changed, the style has changed, but what's
changed in your life really? Well, let's go down the list. The illusion. Mr.
Carney said he would spend less. He's spending $90 billion more and he doubled
the deficit that he inherited. The illusion. Mr. Carney said a country that cannot feed itself has few options.
Well, food inflation has doubled under his watch and it's the worst in the G7.
Groceries will cost the average family an almost unimaginable $17,600
this year. That's after tax money. The illusion build baby build.
The reality has been block baby block. He hasn't got rid of a single
anti-development law or bureaucracy. The no pipelines law still here. And by the
way, speaking of pipelines, how many of them are approved? Zero.
10 years ago, before the Liberals, the social contract, the deal, if you will,
was that by working hard, you can have a good wage, uh, buy a home, start a
family, and a business. But today, living in Canada costs more than it ever has. Mr. Carney promised he would be
judged by grocery prices and the result, Canada is now the G7 country with the
highest grocery prices. So Canadians will have to spend twice as
much to buy food. Mr. Carney doubled the def deficits that he inherited while your taxes continue
to go up. Young people can no longer save to buy a home. With the Liberals,
Canada has become a nation of renters,
not a nation of homeowners. Mr. Carney promised change. Of course,
change. He changed his tone, his words.
But since he became prime minister, has anything really changed in your life?
Has the cost of living gone down? I know Mr. Carney likes to make big speeches
abroad as he forces Canadians to pay more here. It's clear Mr. Carney talks big outside
of Canada. But there's no action at home.
So, I've got a funny paradox for you. I got a bit of a funny paradox for you. He imposes taxes and red tape on home
building, resource development, and businesses. Then he creates new bureaucracies to subsidize home
building, resource development, and businesses. He taxes food production.
And then he creates new programs for food subsidies. In every case, he blocks
and taxes a thing and then subsidizes that same thing. As President Reagan
says, if a liberal sees something that moves, he taxes it. If it keeps moving,
he regulates it. And when it stops moving, he subsidizes it.
But but but
why not just get out of the way and let things move? Well, because then there'd be no role for him. No photo op, no
power. If everyone could just get up and do great things without him, he would be less relevant. the government would be
less important this way. You have to give him your money and then come ask for some of it back and he can claim
that he's building the thing that he's blocking. The cost of the benefit is
seen in the form of his photo ops and political power. But the cost is paid by the homeowner who can't build a home,
the carpenter who never gets a job building it, and the family that never gets to move in, or the entrepreneur who
never launches the business, or the senior who, because of all these extra costs, has to choose between eating and
heating. These costs are so often unseen and even more often so too are the
people paying them. But my message to those people who have felt unseen for
too long, who are carrying the country on their back and feel underappreciated and overworked, conservatives see you
and conservatives will fight for you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. The people need the government off their
backs, out of their way, and by their sides. And when I become prime minister, these great Canadians will not need to
ask my permission to succeed. Business
Business will get ahead by having the best product, not the best lobbyist. By pleasing customers, not pleasing
politicians. Ara, I love you, too. Thank you.
We have the most amazing patriots, the most amazing people in this party. Thank God for the grassroots of the
Conservative Party
and the great people of our country, our you know, as I go around and I meet the people of this country, you know, and I
spend half my time doing that and half my time on Parliament Hill, it's become very clear to me that the common people,
not the ordinary people, The extraordinary people, they have all the wisdom and the virtue to make their own
decisions and run their own lives. They don't need to be bossed around by government.
Our our government is here to do its job only. The things that people can't do
for themselves, not run your life. In fact, if I were starting a new political party from scratch, I'm not. I'm not.
But if I were, it would be called the mind your own damn business party. It would be
that includes that includes respecting the constitutional jurisdiction of our
provinces and getting the federal government to butt out of the the affairs of Albertans and Quebecers and
other Canadians to rake room to have a smaller government that makes room for
the dignity of work and the soft strong bonds of family. It was by fighting for
these principles. Thank you.
It was by fighting for these principles and giving hope to the common people that we won the most votes in our
party's history. 2.5 million more votes and 25 more seats. Often
Often in often we won these votes in places
that had never voted conservative before. And now it is clear conservatives are the party of workers,
including union workers, small business owners, and young people.
Have Have you seen the youth delegation at this convention? It is amazing.
You
know, in the past when I was growing up, we would go to a conservative
convention and you'd look out at the crowd and it would be the great
white
north, the white hair everywhere. And we love the people with white hair, the wisdom that they share with all of
us. But we also need a party that's infused with young people. And on that front, we are the youngest party
and the oldest party.
In fact, Elections Canada holds a mock vote in the high schools on election
day. And this year, Conservatives won. Who came in first?
So, congratulations parents. The kids are all right now.
Now, and you know, every year one-third of those high school kids roughly becomes eligible to vote for real. So,
we got to make sure we get them out to vote by continuing to inspire them every day and in every way. And that means
now obviously elections teach us lessons like for example the need to hold
earlier and open nominations to have more local autonomy to empower our local
riding associations who are the backbone of our organization.
And
for that I want to thank all of you in this room who have provided such
valuable input in the leadup to and throughout this convention. You
know you
are the ones who are whose ears and whose feet are on the ground and have the best intelligence to bring us and
you
have told us many things but one of them you one of the most important
lessons I have gained from listening to you throughout this convention
is that
you told us to ignore the voices who keep telling us to abandon our conservative principles. We will remain
true to our principles.
Absolutely. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. You know, we you know, on the issue of the principles that we hold. We won the debate in the
last election on every single one of the big issues on carbon taxes, inflation,
housing, resources, crime, drugs, and soon we will be proven right once again
on the wasteful and insane liberal gun grab.
It's funny to watch the liberal rhetoric. First they said conservatives have no policies. It's just slogans.
Then they said conservative policies are very scary. And then they said we agree
with all the conservative policies. The best part of being conservatives is
that eventually everyone admits that we were right all along.
And you know, it's not just the solutions for the past. It's the solutions for the future that we offer
the Canadian people that brings so much hope. Policies like an affordable
government for an affordable life. You see, stronger take-home pay requires
lower taxes. A strong dollar that buys more requires we end inflationary
deficits. Both require we cut spending on bureaucracy, consultants, corporate
welfare, foreign aid, and handouts to foreign refugees.
And
speaking of affordability, everything should be dirt cheap in Canada because we have the most dirt in which
to build homes, grow food, and dig resources. Right? Think about it. The
treasures in our soil mixed with the hands of our genius engineers and trades
workers can and will supply an abundant, affordable, autonomous future to our
country. And now more than ever, we need autonomy and independence. unfair and
unresolved US tariffs and diplomatic distractions and disruptions
from down south and from other places show that we cannot rely on others to
secure our borders or buy our goods. Conservatives renew our good faith offer
to help the prime minister and his government, get US tariffs removed, and
open new markets abroad. We will work with the government in any way we can because conservatives always put our
country ahead of our party.
In this dangerous and uncertain world, CA Canadians must stand united so we can stand on our own two feet. United and
strong, Canadians will bow before no nation anywhere on earth.
Canada must make new friends, honor our alliances, and do our part on resources,
trade, diplomacy, foreign aid, and everything else. Though it's clear we
must prioritize our own national interest above all else.
And here's the good news.
The good news is the good news is that the same conservative policies that will make life affordable will make Canada
more self-reliant. We will do it by starting with the Canadian Sovereignty Act. This is a law
that will put us back in charge of our lives. It will bring home the half trillion dollars of investment that has
fled south by ending capital gains tax on reinvestment in Canada.
That will be like economic rocket fuel for startups, high-tech, and major job creating projects. We'll replace
anti-development laws like C69 and C-48 with new laws that will quickly approve
projects and allow energy shipping off our West Coast. We will also quickly greenlight Danielle Smith's proposed
pipeline to the Pacific.
Let me just put this into context. That pipeline would move a million barrels a day and $30 billion a year. That would
be the single biggest increase to overseas exports in Canadian history.
And for context, the Liberals now say that they want this strategic partnership with China for a new world
order. one pipeline to the Pacific would increase our exports more than all the
products that we current currently sell to China in a year. So I think that is a more accurate and pragmatic approach to
diversifying our trade.
We will end the industrial carbon tax so that we can produce more steel, aluminum, and other things that it takes
to grow food and build homes. And speaking of that,
you want to launch or relaunch the biggest tariff proof industry in Canada?
You know what it is? Home building. No other country can tariff home building. Because it's built on Canadian homes, on
Canadian land with Canadian workers using Canadian lumber. It is literally
the most homegrown industry we have. So why don't we dedicate ourselves to
working with all levels of government to remove all the taxes and all the red tape so that we can create jobs, harvest
more lumber, and build homes that our young people can afford.
We'll create free trade bonuses for our provinces to open up markets to the rest
of Canada. We'll bring incentives and rules to ensure that we keep our Canadian technologies in Canadian hands
on Canadian soil. We'll we'll move from the second slowest building permits in the developed world to the fastest
building permits anywhere in the developed world. You know, people ask it seems so complicated. Why how is it that
we get things built? There's actually a very simple checklist that you need to build resource projects. One, you need
the resources. Check. Two, you need the workers. Check. We've got a 100,000
unemployed construction workers available to start any day. Third, you need the investment check. We've got
massive pension funds that are literally investing hundreds of billions of our savings in other countries where they
can get things built. So the fourth thing is the only thing missing. It's
the federal government permits. They are the among the slowest in the world. We
need to check mark this box so that we can get the federal government out of the way. Get the permits so we can get
shovels and ground. And that's what we will do.
Self-reliance def requires self-defense. We must be a nation that protects our
seas, skies, and soil without depending on the US or anyone else to do it for
us. And that's what our conservatives believe.
It's time to cut the back office bureaucracy and the botch purchases so that massive increases in defense
spending actually hit the front line and support our soldiers, sailors, air crew,
and veterans. We will res we will reassert Arctic sovereignty in this
great conservative tradition of Harper and Dean Baker. We will take back control of our north and ensure no
foreign powers ever threaten our territory.
new bases in a cal you know we have no bases in the north right now in the Arctic north today we haven't had any
since the cold war we will open new bases in a Calowit Churchill and Nuvik
four rather than two new ice breakers will break open that ice and open up new
uh passageways for Canadians we will speed up the purchases of new tactical
submarines. I think my little girl wants to be a submarine sailor. She's very excited by that idea. So, I think she's
tired of hearing daddy's speech, though, so we lost her. We will speed up purchases of new
submarines, tactical helicopters, satellite ground stations, over-the-top radar, and we will quickly add an
arsenal of drones that will cover more territory at lower costs and less risk to Canadian life so that we are ready
for the future of warfare.
And we will expand recruitment and also performance by promoting and hiring
based on merit and not political correctness.
Our forces will be guided by a warrior
culture and our government will be dedicated to its first its first responsibility which is to take care of
our precious veterans. They fought for us and we will always fight for them.
We have to diversify our markets and strengthen our alliances with our NATO partners. We have to fight the US
tariffs and do everything we can to reach a tariff-free agreement with the
United States. And yes, conservatives are ready to work with Mr. Carney to
open up new markets and eliminate US tariffs. But we can no longer depend on others.
That's why I'm proposing Canadian sovereignty to develop our natural resources and bring production
back to Canada with well-paid jobs and a stronger dollar and more
purchasing power so that we can truly be masters in our own home.
And we need to unite this country like never before because a house divided cannot stand.
You know, here we go again. Liberals are in power and just as night follows day,
separatist movements are in resurgence uh back in Quebec and here in Alberta.
these movements which had been dormant or even dead when Prime Minister Harper
left office. Now we can simply attack people who feel this way or we can ask
them why. Why in Alberta and Quebec? Why particularly among young people in those
provinces have so many lost hope in Confederation? Well, here's a few hints. For the last
10 years, Ottawa has told our young people that our history is filled with shame and horror, that we are a post
national country with no core identity, and that our youth will never own homes,
but other than that, they should feel great about being united in Canada. All
the while, the federal government stomps on Alberta's energy sector and Quebec's jurisdiction. Now, our message to those
youth and to all of the people in Alberta and Quebec who are losing hope in our country. You will again have a
country that respects your autonomy, is proud of your industries, unites us
around our common identity and history, a country that will afford you the hopeful future that you have earned.
Thank you.
First, you know, it's incredible that when conserv There has never been a referendum crisis or a a national unity
crisis when conservatives have been in power. It's an interesting coincidence, isn't it?
When the liberals are in office, it's a great boost to Solomon who had disappeared during the Harper.
When the Conservatives are in office, Quebec's autonomy is respected. Alberta's contribution is recognized and
our country is proud, united, affordable,
and hopeful. The problem is for 10 years, the Liberals have been
saying two things to young Quebecers and to young Albertans
that Canada is a postnational state with no identity and a supposedly shameful past
and that our youth will never ever be able to buy a home.
What young people are being told is, "You have no identity and no home, but be a proud Canadian." And we can imagine
why young people are starting to lose hope in Canada. But tonight, I have a message of hope for young Quebecers.
Quebec nationalism is part of Canadian patriotism. Canada will be proud of its
history and its identity.
And you will once again be proud of our country and Canada will allow you to realize your ambitions, your revs, your
dreams and shape your future here in Canada.
And we will celebrate. We will celebrate rather than tear down our heroes in history. Our museums and
heritage programs will tell the unvarnished truth that conservatives have known all along. This is the
greatest country on world on on earth precisely because of the goodness who of
those people who came here and sacrificed before us.
As the great Nova Scotian Jo Joseph Howell said, "A wise nation preserves
its records, gathers up its monuments, decorates the tombs of its illustrious
dead, repairs its great public structures, and fosters national pride
and love of country by perpetual reference to the sacrifices and glories
of the past. Uniting around our common history will heal the divisions. We want
a nation where all of us are equal. A nation that is colorblind. We want a
nation with no more hyphens. No more group labels. We are all Canadians.
Canadians in our heart. Canadians in every single way.
and immigration must serve our national interest as well. We will welcome those who contribute and we'll make sure that
their skills are recognized so that they can get licensed to work as doctors and nurses in our country and reduce weight
times in our hospitals. At the same times, we must at the same time we must cap immigration at numbers we can
integrate into our jobs, housing, health care and Canadian way of life.
We will deport criminals, end fraud, end abuse and handouts to phony refugees. We
will no longer allow foreign conflicts to spill onto our streets.
We must unite to end anti-se anti-semitism and the attacks on their places of worship
and stand with our Jewish friends and neighbors who are under attack like never for we want Jews to feel
comfortable and safe. They should be able to wear the Star of David, put up the massa, and wear a keepa everywhere
and be proudly Jewish all around.
That's the story of Canada, isn't it? It's incredible. Protestants and Catholics teared each other's eyeballs
out for hundreds of years on the other side of the pond, and they came here and got along. Yes, we squabble. Yes, we get
on each other's nerves, but we don't fight each other because of religious or sectoral differences. We get along with
our next door neighbors regardless of where their grandparents live. When newcomers arrive in this country, just
as it has always been, we will ensure that they leave differences at the doors.
We believe those problems from security at home. Crime has gotten so bad in this
country that in Toronto, the police tell people to leave their keys at the door
so that thieves can more safely steal their car in the middle of the night. In
Bmpton, people are literally being told that because there is an extortion wave on
their particular street, they should move into their basement to minimize being hit, the chance of being hit by a
stray bullet. in Canada. You're right. It's It's not just stats.
It's human tragedies. In 2024, a violent repeat offender released by
liberal laws murdered a wonderful piano teacher, Esie Jones.
The killer should have been in jail, and Esie should still be alive today. Her
niece Esther is here with us today. Pastor, very sweet.
She decided to turn this terrible strategy into action, this tra terrible tragedy into real change. She joined our
party and testified in a parliamentary committee against catch and release liberal laws. And together with her,
together with you, Esther, we will work to pass laws requiring that anyone
convicted of three serious offenses will have a minimum of 10 years in prison
with no jail, parole, probation, or house arrest.
the tiny group of criminals, the career criminals will stay behind bars so that no one ever faces a tragedy like
Esther's family. And I can tell you, Esther, that your wonderful aunt will have an incredible legacy because her
story will inspire us to take the action that will save so many other lives. Thank you, and God bless your beautiful
family.
We will also protect the freedoms of law-abiding people with a new castle law
that allows you to take whatever action necessary to protect your family against home invaders.
We will do so also by protecting the rights of law-abiding firearms owners,
stopping the liberal gun grab
and putting the money putting the money into border security. By definition, if you've got a
possession and acquisition license, if you following the law, if you would even respect this compensation, this compos
confiscation policy, you're by definition not the risk. You're not a danger. And we shouldn't be wasting
police resources harassing you. The Liberals want to protect turkeys from hunters. We want to protect Canadians
from criminals.
And we will protect your religious freedom. We will stop the liberals from censoring politically incorrect Bible
verses. You will have the ability to worship God in your own way.
And we'll protect our loved ones from addictions. Overdoses have cost 50,000
lives and overrun our streets. We'll bring in life sentences for fentinyl kingpins, shut down the drug
dens, and treat drug abuse because 50,000 dead is too many. Let me
tell you,
after years of intense struggle with drugs, Kirk was determined to take his life.
While driving on the Sea of Sky highway, he took off his seat belt and he drove
full speed into a rock wall. But God was not finished with him yet.
Kirk survived. And he later said, "At that moment, I decided I was going to change my life."
Kirk entered recovery, counseling, group therapy, exercise, and yes, faith. It
was hard, but it saved his life.
And he has since become a chef at the Saint Treatment Center. He makes a mean
steak, which he's promised to let me try. He's also the CEO of Probiotic Sodas and has six employees. He will
soon be marrying his beautiful fiance, and both of them are here with us tonight. Give them a big round of
applause. Way to go, buddy.
Way to go, man. We love you.
You know, when I go to these treatment facilities, I love to go and meet with mostly the young men who are in those uh
places turning their lives around. And I walk in and I say, "I'm not here because
you need me. I'm here because, frankly, I'm here because I need you. Canada has
a job for you to do. You need to get better and go out and pull the next guy
off
the street. And he's going to come in and get better. And he'll go back
out and pull the next guy off the street. And we're going to keep doing
that again
and again till every last one of our brothers and sisters is back on their feet.
So hang on, have hope. Help is on the way. Hope,
that's really the theme of this convention and this evening. Hope is on the way for our people as well. But hope
is not just a comforting blanket. Hope is the knowledge that your work
will fulfill your purpose, your why.
He who has a why can bear any how. Victor Frankle wrote in the great book
Man's Search for Meaning. That thing that you call meaning could
free be for you a home, a career, a family, a business.
Seeing your autistic daughter speak for the first time is the thing. It's the
thing.
That meaning is the thing that keeps people fighting on through hardship.
People ask me why I keep going. You know, the slings and
arrows, they're the easy part. Constantly being away from family,
that's the harder part. You know, my little boy Cruz, he cut out and colored
a little paper Spider-Man and gave it for me to take on the road
to stop bad guys.
I look at it when I'm in the hotel room sometimes late at night. It makes me
smile. I see all those little scribbles and cut marks and imagine those little fingers
working away. And I know that one day I'll come home and those fingers will have grown big.
And I miss him. And too often I kiss my wife and daughter good night through FaceTime.
So why keep going? Because we want our kids to have the same promise that we had.
Because
because we want them to know that when you care about something, you work for it. When you believe in something, you
fight for it. And most of all, when you start something, you never give up.
Because because the unsung heroes who built and
protect this country, who have it infinitely harder than I do, they never give up. So I have no right to give up
because all of you who pound signs on frozen ground, knock doors on dark
nights, and sacrifice warm family dinners for cold campaign pizza, you
never give up. So I'll never give up.
Because the young couple, the young couple scrimping to start a family and
the single mother fighting each day to feed her kids, they never give up so that we never give up. Because the
Canadian Pacific Railway workers who pounded spikes into frozen ground and forged steel ribbon that united east and
west, they never gave up. So we never gave up because the Canadian teenagers living in frozen ratinfested trenches
who had it infinitely harder than we do. They fought on. They never gave up and they won war so that we will never give
up on our country in these times.
Come as Canadians.
As Canadians, we don't give up because it's worth it to fight for our country,
its people, and its promise. Our Canadians, only Canadians, could carve the world's best country out of a big,
cold, vast land. Because we never give up. We never back down. We never run
away. We stand united tonight, together, always. Because this country, its
people, and promise are worth fighting for. Because while some say this is as good as it gets, we know the best is yet
to come. Thank you very much.
