Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre used a British Columbia press conference to outline an affordability agenda focused on gas taxes, housing costs and property rights, arguing that a decade of Liberal policies has broken the basic promise of Canada.
Speaking after an introduction by Richmond MP Chak Au and Langley Township–Fraser Heights MP Tako Van Popta, Poilievre said Canadians are asking for a government that lives within its means, leaves more money in people’s pockets and stays out of their way.
“Everywhere I go, I meet workers, small business owners, trades people, firefighters, police officers, farmers… They’re all asking for the same thing. A government that is out of their way, out of their pockets, and off their backs,” he said.
Housing, Food and Insolvency Pressures
Poilievre said the Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney had doubled housing costs, doubled food-bank lineups and doubled the national debt. He pointed to data showing consumer insolvencies reached 38,000 families in the second quarter of 2026 — the highest level since the global financial crisis.
He specifically criticized the handling of Vancouver’s condo market, saying Liberals had inflated prices and were now considering using public money to support developers and banks after the market cooled. Young buyers, he argued, would effectively pay twice — once through taxes for any bailout and again through higher purchase prices.
Poilievre also noted that Canada’s economy shrank between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, the only G20 country to post such a decline in that period, and that Canada ranked second-worst among 38 OECD countries for growth under Carney.
Proposed Gas Tax Relief
A central demand was immediate action on fuel taxes. Poilievre said gas in Vancouver was already around $2.30 a litre — among the highest prices in North America — and that the Liberals planned to raise the federal gas tax further in September.
Conservatives are calling for the September increase to be cancelled and for all federal gas taxes (including the excise tax and GST on fuel) to be removed until at least Canada Day. Poilievre said the package would save drivers roughly 25 cents per litre, about $20 per fill-up, and approximately $1,000 for a typical family between now and Canada Day.
He argued the relief could be funded in part by higher-than-expected revenues from elevated oil prices, which the government had not fully anticipated. The money, he said, should go back to households rather than additional spending.
Property Rights and Softwood Lumber
Poilievre also addressed property rights in the Lower Mainland, calling on the federal government to defend fee-simple ownership in court and to vote down the Musqueam agreement, which he said threatened homeowners. He framed reconciliation as working together on resource development, housing and jobs rather than undermining existing property titles.
On trade, he said it was “unacceptable” for American tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber to have tripled since Carney took office. He noted that 30 mills had closed in British Columbia and urged the prime minister to deliver on his election promise of a successful negotiation that removes tariffs on lumber, autos, aluminum and steel, with no further one-sided concessions.
Questions on Security and Trade
During the question period, Poilievre was asked about protests involving Iranian regime flags. He stated that the IRGC and Hezbollah are listed terrorist entities under Canadian law. He cited the downing of Flight PS752, reports of IRGC-linked agents operating in Canada, threats against the Persian community, and alleged links to shootings, calling for the identification and removal of willing agents of the regime and opposition to renewed diplomatic ties with Tehran.
On softwood lumber, he repeated that tariffs must come off and that Canada should not accept further concessions without reciprocal gains. When asked how tax cuts would be balanced against public services, he pointed to the oil-price revenue windfall and the need to reduce what he called wasteful spending on bureaucracy, consultants, corporate welfare and certain refugee and foreign-aid programs.
Quick Facts
- Location: British Columbia press conference
- Key proposal: Cancel September gas tax hike + remove federal gas taxes until Canada Day
- Estimated savings cited: 25¢/L, ~$20 per fill-up, ~$1,000 per family until Canada Day
- Housing/insolvency claims: 38,000 consumer insolvencies in Q2 2026; housing and food-bank lines described as doubled
- Other priorities raised: property rights (Musqueam agreement), softwood lumber tariffs, IRGC-linked agents
Poilievre closed by saying Conservatives would continue fighting for stronger take-home pay, safer streets, secure borders and a self-reliant economy.
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Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
