Tories attack Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland for saying “amen to raising taxes”

This was probably predictable.

A day before the Speech from the Throne and the week that parliament resumes after a long summer break, the Tories are going on the attack against Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.

Specifically, they're going after Trudeau's affiliation with Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland who is the party's nominee to run in an upcoming byelection in Toronto Centre.

[ Related: Opposition set to attack Tories on Senate expense scandals as Parliament resumes ]

Here's a statement emailed to supporters and posted on the Conservative Party website:

Since becoming Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has spent a lot of time talking about his plan to legalize marijuana but he’s offered nothing on the economy or job creation. Since he has failed to come up with his own ideas, he has turned to his new candidate Chrystia Freeland to offer him advice on how to help Canadian families. Who is his new economic advisor?

Chrystia Freeland has spent the last several years as a commentator in the United States offering advice such as “you are going to have to increase taxes” on CNN. (CNN Your Money, February 11, 2012)

She supports a job-killing carbon tax. (MSNBC, Finance Wire, December 29, 2012)

And, on MSNBC, she said “amen to raising taxes.” (Hardball with Chris Matthews, MSNBC, April 18, 2011)

So why did Trudeau make her his advisor, saying that she will “continue to shape this discussion in a way that will bring about the kinds of changes we need”? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIsZsml38tI)

Freeland admits, “I’m not an economic genius” (Washingtonpost.com, August 16, 2013) but it is clear that she the one thing she does like is higher taxes.

No wonder Trudeau prefers to focus on his plans for legalizing marijuana.

It takes more than a famous last name to be Prime Minister. Justin Trudeau lacks the experience and judgment to be Prime Minister. He’s not up to the job of leading Canada through uncertain economic times and his ideas will set Canadian families back and kill jobs. The truth is he’s in way over his head.

It's a clever attack -- accusing the other party of secretly wanting to raise personal taxes is a tried and true campaign tactic.

And, with this latest missive, the Conservatives continue with their theme — which they started the night Trudeau won the Liberal leadership — about him being "in over his head."

[ Related: Is new star Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland the new Ignatieff? ]

Coincidentally, the NDP candidate in Toronto Centre has also been a proponent of personal tax increases.

According to the National Post, Linda McQuaig had previously said that she supports a marginal tax rate of 60 per cent for incomes above $300,000, and 70 per cent for those who earn more than $2.5 million.

But for now, it looks like the McQuaig and the NDP aren't on the Tories' radar.

As has been the case for the past year, they have their sights set on Trudeau and the Liberals.

It's game on!

(Photo courtesy of the Reuters)

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