Tories support Liberal defence spending hike, but still want a budget
"All of this will require a budget," Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters
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OTTAWA — While the Tories support the PM’s plans to greatly bolster Canada’s defence spending, they still want figures in black and white.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Question Period on Monday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre renewed his calls for the Mark Carney Liberals to release a budget sooner rather than later.
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“All of this will require a budget,” Poilievre said. “A budget that not only puts this money forward, clearly identifies where it comes from, but cuts waste and bureaucracy, consultants, foreign aid, corporate welfare and other areas so that the necessary increase in the military does not come as an inflationary burden on the backs of Canadian taxpayers.”
Intense backlash to the government’s decision to forego a budget this year prompted the PM to walk back his previous assertions, promising one in the fall.
The Conservatives have said they prefer to see one tabled before the House of Commons rises for the summer next week — tabling a motion in the House of Commons on Monday calling for exactly that.
“This prime minister says that he wants to be held to account based on what Canadians are paying for their groceries,” Tory MP Michael Barrett said during Monday’s Question Period.
“But instead of putting forward a budget, or bringing down grocery prices, he’s introduced a half-trillion dollars in what we can only assume is more inflationary spending.”
Quietly released last month during the visit of King Charles, the federal government’s main estimates outlined a spending plan worth $487 billion.
Poilievre said he stands ready to work with other parties to meet the goal of putting Canada first and defend our sovereignty.
“Conservatives support rebuilding our military,” Poilievre said during Monday’s news conference.
“After another lost decade of Liberals cuts and mismanagement and back-office bureaucracy, of boondoggles and wasted money on bungled projects, our military has never been weaker.”
Poilievre reaffirmed his party’s calls for a strong Canadian military with a tangible presence in the north — including at least one permanent base, new fighter jets and surveillance aircraft, and new ships including icebreakers.
Filling CAF’s massive recruitment gaps is also a priority, he said.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
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