Poilievre says 'listen carefully' to separatists and blames feds for Albertan discontent

OTTAWA — Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to give a speech on Monday blaming separatist sentiment on the federal government and urging Canadians to “listen carefully” to the concerns of people who say “they want to leave.”

Poilievre is in Calgary to deliver what his office has billed as a speech arguing for a “stronger Alberta within a united Canada.” He will urge the provinces to ‘lock arms’ and band together to change laws and regulations that are holding them back.

“We do not need a different country, Alberta. We need different government policies in Ottawa,” Poilievre will say, according to an excerpt from the speech provided to reporters.

“Unblocking resources and pipelines, respecting firearms owners, locking up criminals, relieving taxpayers, respecting provincial autonomy, unlocking free enterprise — we know that these are the things Albertans have been demanding.”

Poilievre will also call for the industrial carbon tax to be eliminated, among the policy changes he argues will “make every province better off.”

Poilievre is expected to speak in Calgary at noon MT.

More to come.

National Post

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