Charest targets Poilievre, vows stiffer penalties for infrastructure blockades
Former Liberal Alleslev latest to join CPC field
The rule of law is “not a buffet” Canadian parliamentarians can pick and choose from, says Conservative party leadership candidate Jean Charest, in a barely veiled reference to leadership opponent Pierre Poilievre who stood proudly with the trucker convoy weeks ago.
If prime minister, Charest is promising to introduce a Critical Infrastructure Protection Act that will make it a criminal offence to blockade, trespass or interfere with critical infrastructure, such as pipelines, railways, ports, border crossings and interprovincial highways. That includes their construction, maintenance or operation.
He also promises to give police the power to clear illegal blockades from these critical sites without seeking a court injunction and to amend the Income Tax Act to remove charitable status from “any group that has accepted foreign funds and has engaged in action related to the new offences created in this Act.”
“Mr. Charest has always valued and respected the rule of law and the Canadian legal system,” said Charest spokesman Laurence Tôth in a statement to the National Post. “As a former deputy prime minister, and provincial premier, he knows members of Parliament are in a privileged position to propose, debate and pass laws.”
“The rule of law and the Canadian legal system are not a buffet — parliamentarians can't pick and choose when to follow the law.”
That last comment is in direct reference to Poilievre, but also all the Conservative MPS who supported the protesters who unlawfully occupied downtown Ottawa for three weeks this past winter.
The federal government invoked the Emergencies Act to put an end to the protest, which had spilled to other cities and critical border crossings with the United States.
Charest has until now mostly refused to respond to attacks from Poilievre, seen as the frontrunner in the race, but it looks like that might be changing.
In an announcement earlier this week, the former Quebec premier turned Conservative leadership candidate promised to increase military spending to two per cent of Canada's GDP in order to meet NATO targets and to restore the pre-2006 lifelong pension offered to veterans for their service, among others.
“Our Armed Forces and veterans are the real freedom fighters,” Charest emphasized in a post on his newly created Twitter account.
On Wednesday, another candidate confirmed she was entering the race to become the next Conservative leader. Leona Alleslev was first elected as a Liberal MP for the Toronto area in 2015 but crossed the floor to the Conservatives in 2018. She briefly served as deputy leader in 2019 and 2020, before stepping down to support Peter Mackay in the last leadership race.
Alleslev ultimately lost her seat to the Liberals in the 2021 election, but that did not stop her from wanting to jump back in the federal scene to try to get the top job.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Alleslev touted her experience in politics and the private sector to explain why she would be fit for the job of leader.
“As a federal politician, private-sector leader, entrepreneur and military officer, I have the knowledge and experience to get it done. Yes, real world experience matters,” she said.
Responding to questions about the already crowded field, the former politician said Conservative members are “lucky” to have “lots of good choices in this race” and that they will ultimately decide what “leadership style, what background and experience they want in a leader.”
Alleslev said she was confident her name would ultimately be on the ballot, even with little more than three weeks to go to pay a $300,000 deposit to the party and get the green light from the leadership committee.
She has been seen in recent weeks collecting signatures in a public event in Ottawa and discreetly launched a website for her leadership bid.
But the path to victory might prove to be steep for newer candidates.
Poilievre, who was the first to announce he was running in early February, has been attracting crowds in the hundreds to his rallies, many of whom are not necessarily longtime Conservative members, with his pro-freedom and anti-establishment messages. He has also been tapping into younger voters' interests with support for cryptocurrency.
“There is a certain group of people who are obviously very vocal, but that may or may not be a reflection of all the Conservative members,” responded Alleslev when asked about Poilievre's apparent support.
“They are looking for choice and I have a responsibility to provide them with a choice.”
THE RULE OF LAW AND THE CANADIAN LEGAL SYSTEM ARE NOT A BUFFET