BEST PATH HAS O'TOOLE LEADING WAY
Canadians have faced painful and punishing hardship during the pandemic. It has caused great fiscal and economic damage, while deep divisions over the right path to recovery are already tearing at the very fabric of Canadian society.
The Liberals seem to be making things worse. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau called an unnecessary election in the middle of a pandemic, despite his promises not to, trying to win more power on divisive wedge issues and promises of endless spending.
The Conservatives, led by Erin O'toole, have by contrast shown themselves to be ready to govern in the interests of all Canadians. O'toole has demonstrated that he is a competent and sensible leader who has connected with a broad spectrum of Canadians, from the North and West, to the Atlantic region, and in Ontario and Quebec.
He also gives the impression of a man who seeks unity rather than stoking division. He has improved his French fluency and worked to persuade Quebec nationalists to support the federal project. He stood alongside other national party leaders to promote vaccinations. He has shown no patience for sexism and intolerance of any kind within his own party, or without. And he has condemned the intimidating and at times violent protests against Trudeau as unbecoming of our democracy, which they are.
O'toole's platform offers a clear alternative to the Liberals. His job- and investment-focused recovery policies show that, unlike Trudeau,
Canada faces more significant challenges today than it has in a long time.
he understands that a return to growth is only possible through the renewed confidence of the private sector. To that end, the Conservatives would pay up to half of salaries for new employees for six months after the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is phased out, and offer new tax credits for businesses and investors to encourage spending and investment in small businesses.
While the Liberals also promise supports for businesses, any gains would be counteracted by other Liberal priorities. The Liberals would raise taxes on successful business owners and others with high earnings, rather than encourage them to invest. On climate change, the Liberals promise to raise the carbon tax faster and higher than the Conservatives' carbon-pricing plan, and would bring in a host of new regulations on Canadian energy companies. Theirs is not a plan that prioritizes economic growth.
Climate change is certainly a concern for many Canadians and O'toole has shown he has plans to address the issue. The Conservatives want to streamline what has become an unwieldy environmental assessment process by setting clear timelines while maintaining environmental standards. Particularly important for lowering emissions is making it less cumbersome for LNG projects, which displace higher carbon-emitting fuels, to get approved and built.
This is not to say we have no reservations about O'toole's campaign. The Conservatives promise to reduce the deficit to $25 billion at the end of their first term and return to balance within 10 years. That's too slow, but Trudeau has no plans to balance the budget and would spend about a third more than the Tories overall.
Canada faces more significant challenges today than it has in a long time: challenges to our economic growth, our financial stability and our national unity. Our recovery calls for a government that takes these things seriously. That's why we believe the Conservatives are the right choice to govern.