O’Leary makes his pitch
Conservative Party leadership candidate parrots U.S. president; says he’s proud of not being a typical politician
Federal Conservative leadership candidate Kevin O’Leary was in Kelowna on Saturday morning touting his plan for three per cent economic growth in Canada.
O’Leary, a businessman with no political experience, known for appearing on Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank, prides himself on not being a typical politician.
“What that really means is I don’t owe anybody anything,” he said to a crowd of about 400 Conservative supporters at the Coast Capri Hotel. “I’m making one promise: three per cent economic growth and strong adult supervision from the federal government down to provinces.”
Many of the current premiers are “weak leaders” who “don’t know how to manage their provinces,” O’Leary said to reporters following his presentation.
With regards to B.C. Premier Christy Clark, O’Leary said he thinks she has done a “good job” managing the province, with the exception of her “lie” about carbon tax.
“She said that it was carbon tax and it was going to be tax neutral,” he said. “It was neutral in 2013, not in (2014), not in (2015), not this year. She’s extracting money out of businesses under a promise that she broke.”
O’Leary said he wants the carbon tax eliminated immediately and will claw back federal transfer payments from B.C. if it does not comply.
“I will not tolerate punitive taxes against businesses,” he said. “I’m making the promise to do three per cent growth and I need the provinces on board, so they have to act accordingly.”
When it comes to infrastructure improvements, O’Leary said he prefers the private sector pay for them rather than the federal government, and if they won’t, “it’s not worth doing.”
“Governments waste a lot of money on infrastructure projects that they deem to be economically viable,” he said.
“I want to invest on behalf of the Canadian people as if it was my own money, and I don’t waste money.”
One Conservative supporter questioned O’Leary on his views of marijuana legalization, saying it was the one area she was having trouble with.
O’Leary said he understood it is a tough issue for the party, but that it’s too late to backtrack on
The 2019 election is not an election. It’s going to be an exorcism. Kevin O’Leary
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan of legalization.
“We cannot say we’re going to criminalize marijuana and win a majority mandate. Please understand that.”
O’Leary said he wants a zero tolerance policy for people under the age of 21 driving under the influence of marijuana and said offenders should lose their drivers licence for five years.
O’Leary repeatedly expressed his views of Trudeau’s competence, or lack thereof.
“The best thing for Canadians is to get rid of him as fast as possible,” he said.
O’Leary did praise Trudeau on his ability to rally younger voters, including O’Leary’s own children, who voted for Trudeau.
“We have to win back all of those young people,” he said. “That’s one huge cohort we have to attract back in, and the number one concern they have is a job.”
O’Leary is one of 14 candidates vying for the leadership position.
The Conservative Party of Canada leadership election will be held on May 27.