Poilievre meets with caucus ahead House of Commons opening Monday

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OTTAWA — While he won’t have a seat in the House of Commons on Monday, Pierre Poilievre is gearing up to fight for change.

The Conservative Party leader delivered that message to his party’s caucus Sunday afternoon, the first time they’ve met since last month’s federal election.

Poilievre was introduced to the caucus by Conservative MP Jonathan Rowe — just days after a judicial recount declared he won the riding of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas by only 12 votes.

“Forty-eight hours ago, I was still wondering where I was going to be today,” Rowe said to applause and laughter.

“We come with the best showing in Newfoundland and Labrador for the Conservative party in over 20 years.”

Praising Rowe for his “efficient” victory, Poilievre said the party’s Newfoundland inroads was part of a larger movement that saw his party win a substantial number of seats.

“We’ve expanded our coalition to include union workers, young people, newcomers and others who’ve never voted before,” Poilievre said.

“They voted for hope — for a change.”

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And while the party narrowly missed forming government, Poilievre said the results election night were a mandate from Canadians to fight for change.

“That change means a Canada that is affordable, safe, self-reliant and united — those are our priorities for this session of Parliament,” he said.

Implementing that plan, he said, involves reducing the cost of living, and demanding the government make clear its financial situation sooner rather than later.

“We’re going to be demanding a spring budget that reveals the true deficit, and lowers spending, taxes and inflation,” he said.

While originally maintaining that they wouldn’t table a budget this year, outrage forced Prime MInister Mark Carney to change his tune — promising one in the fall, instead.

“Mr. Carney told us all that a slogan is not a plan,” Poilievre said, mocking the PM’s criticism of the Tory election platform.

“I’ll point out that that’s a slogan, but I’ll tell what a plan is — a budget is literally a plan.”

Other priorities include securing Canada’s borders, getting immigration under control, improving safety, getting affordable homes built and restoring Canada’s economic independence.

The House of Commons sits for the first time on Monday for an abbreviated spring session, the first time MPs have sat since early January.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume