Pierre Poilievre visits Windsor to promote his 'Axe the Tax' agenda
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was in Windsor on Wednesday to promote his Axe the Tax agenda — a pledge to repeal the carbon tax if his party is elected to government.
Addressing veterans and others at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 594, Poilievre said young people need hope and can draw inspiration from Canadian veterans.
Poilievre also focused on the rising cost of living, mentioning how it takes decades for people to save for a down payment on a home in Toronto, where he said there are up to 256 homeless encampments.
Additionally, he referenced how bodies are being stored in freezers in a parking lot at a hospital in St. John's, N.L., because their families can't afford to bury or cremate their loved ones.
"We're going to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime," Poilievre said to loud cheers from the audience.
"Axe the tax to bring down food and grocery and heat and gas prices, lower income tax so hard work once again pays off, unleash our entrepreneurs with less red tape and more free enterprise, incentivize our cities to speed up and lower the cost of building permits."
Amherstburg resident Rosalind Rousseau said the Conservative leader's message struck a chord with her.
"Axe the tax. We're taxed to death and I'm just tired of it," she told CBC News.
"We give food out in Windsor and most of the people that are struggling right now are seniors… Let's give our seniors at least $2,000 a month so that they can survive."
Rosalind Rousseau, left, and her husband, Tim Rousseau. (CBC)
Rosalind's husband, Tim Rousseau, himself a Canadian veteran who served in Afghanistan on several tours, was most impressed with Poilievre's comments about the military.
"He did mention about the veterans and what we have to do with our military and building up our military [and] I think that really does resonate with a lot of us who have served in the past," he said.
Former Windsor city councillor for Ward 10, Paul Borrelli, said "it was amazing" how Poilievre pledged support for the military and veterans.
"All the veterans here really appreciate his comments. Pierre Poilievre is incredibly supportive of them," Borrelli said.
Poilievre has made multiple trips to Windsor-Essex in the last year trying to court voters ahead of the federal election in 2025.
CBC is attempting to reach Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk, who represents Windsor-Tecumseh, for comment.
