'It's now Pierre's Convoy Party of Canada': CUPE, PM Trudeau blast Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre's 'dog whistles and careless attacks'
Just days after Pierre Poilievre was named the leader of Canada's Conservative Party criticism has begun, including from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
"As you all know, the Conservative Party picked a new leader over the weekend, I want to congratulation Mr. Poilievre for becoming the leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition," Trudeau said from the Liberal caucus retreat. "We've been making every efforts to work with all parliamentarians and we will continue to do so, but this doesn't mean that we're not going to be calling out highly questionable, reckless economic ideas.
What Canadians need is responsible leadership... Buzz words, dog whistles and careless attacks don't add up to a plan for Canadians. Attacking the institutions that make our society fair, safe and free is not responsible leadership. Telling people they can opt-out of inflation by investing their savings in volatile cryptocurrencies is not responsible leadership... Fighting against vaccines that saved millions of lives, that's not responsible leadership.PM Justin Trudeau
Unfortunately, "Pierre Poilievre has spent his leadership campaign making the Conservative Party a cozier place for far-right extremists and conspiracy theorists in order to sell memberships." - Mark Hancock, CUPE National President.#canlab #cdnpolihttps://t.co/bfGry8OvxO
— CUPE National (@cupenat) September 11, 2022
Mark Hancock, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), previously released a statement on Poilievre's party leadership.
“It’s too bad that, unlike Andrew Scheer, Pierre Poilievre does not hold American citizenship, because he would be right at home as Governor of a state like Alabama," the statement reads. "Pierre is a career politician who has been collecting a six-figure salary on the public’s dime since he was 24, and he’s spent every minute of his time in office fighting against fair wages, good pensions and a better life for working people. He is not a worker, and he definitely doesn’t get what it means to be a member of the working class."
"Pierre has spent his leadership campaign making the Conservative Party a cozier place for far-right extremists and conspiracy theorists in order to sell memberships. This isn’t your parents’ Conservative Party, or even Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party. It’s now Pierre’s Convoy Party of Canada. His leadership will be a disaster for working people in Canada."Mark Hancock, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Hancock's statement, in particular, has gotten several responses on social media.
good morning to everyone but especially to whoever at @cupenat wrote this 🔥 statement on the weekend https://t.co/rCfgNaJdOw
— Torrance Coste (@TorranceCoste) September 12, 2022
Great to see @cupenat offer a direct honest assessment of what’s happen to the #CPC
Statement from CUPE on Pierre Poilievre winning Conservative Party leadership | Canadian Union of Public Employees https://t.co/OytLlhmBkS— Kevin George (@itsjustkevy) September 12, 2022
Trudeau and Hancock's comments came as Poilievre met with his party's national caucus on Monday.
Pierre Poilievre has spent his career attacking workers and our rights. Thanks to @cupenat for calling out his lies and misinformation.
Proud to call myself a member of CUPE ✊ https://t.co/W6ThYZsOpo— Evan Krosney (@EvanKrosney) September 12, 2022
"Canadians are out of money and this prime minister is out of touch," Poilievre said.
"Right now we have people who can't afford to pay for their kids food. We have countless young adults still living in their parents basements, stuck in small apartments. Canadians are hurting and it our job to transform that hurt into hope, and that is my mission."
