A political exorcism
Conservative Party of Canada hopeful Kevin O’Leary says the country needs to be more competitive
Kevin O’Leary says he’s going to perform an exorcism in 2019. The former judge on Dragon’s Den, who is one of 14 people running for the Conservative Party of Canada leadership, spoke to about 40 people at a Conservative event in Pooles Corner on Wednesday. “I promise to make (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau’s life a living hell for the next two years,’’ he said, assuming that he wins the leadership. “In 2019, it’s going to be an exorcism. I will exorcise him out of power (in the next federal election) and reverse all of these damaging economic policies immediately. I will eliminate the carbon tax.’’ O’Leary didn’t back down when transfer payments came up. He’s been critical of equalization since the campaign began, saying Atlantic Canada relies too much on money Ottawa distributes to “have-not’’ provinces.
He believes regions should rely more on their own natural resources.
“Instead of sending a welfare cheque, I would prefer to send an investment cheque.’’
The only real campaign promise he’s made so far is three per cent GDP growth. O’Leary spoke about lecturing engineers as part of the work that he does and has discovered that very few of them have any interest in setting up business in Canada. Engineers would rather work in the U.S. where the dollar isn’t such a factor. “What has changed in Canada over the last 10, 20 years that our best and brightest don’t want to stay here; don’t want to work here; don’t want to build here? Have we poisoned the economic environment so much that they find other opportunities elsewhere? That’s really disconcerting, (and) I blame government for that.’’ He also praised the way President Donald Trump has run things, saying Trump followed through on lowering personal taxes, corporate taxes, corporate taxes, re-regulating the economy and lifting moratoriums on economic development and natural resources.
“He was pro growth, pro capital, pro jobs in every state of the country. He is going to be competitive.’’
Canada, in contrast he says, is like a salmon swimming up river the wrong way with more personal taxes, more corporate taxes, more carbon taxes and more moratoriums on gas and oil. “More grinding the economy to a halt. Why? Because (Trudeau) has never run a business. He’s never made payroll; he’s never read a balance sheet.’’ O’Leary said Trudeau should have waited to see what Trump was going to do.
“We should have waited to see if we could have been competitive. If he lowers corporate tax, we match it. If he lowers personal tax, we match it.’’