Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre presented himself as a Quebec ally in a speech in which he praised Quebecers’ fight over language, hydroelectric technology and even a hit by the group Mes Aïeux.
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“I will always be an ally of Quebec, the Acadian people and all French speakers across the country,” he told about 2,500 enthusiastic supporters gathered at a conference in the national capital. A smaller central government will give way to a larger Quebec and larger Quebecers.”
Quebec as an example
The Conservative leader, who has made friends in the region in recent days not only through indirect attacks on Mayor Bruno Marchand’s tram project, called on the rest of Canada to take an example from Quebec, which is not afraid to use its not to defend identity.
“Quebecians – and I say this deliberately in English – make no apologies for their culture, their language and their history. They celebrate her. All Canadians should do the same,” he said.
This attack by Mr Poilievre against the “cancel culture”, which pushes, for example, the removal of historical statues, was taken up by all speakers invited to the main stage of the Conservative Congress since Thursday.
With a verse from the My Aïeux hit “Degeneration”, “La culture d’ici” has even made its way from song into discourse.
In the Conservative leader’s words, the “little 3.5 tonne, too expensive and annoying in winter” has become a symbol of the housing crisis and the shattered dream of access to property.
Mr. Poilievre also praised hydropower in Quebec, noting that if elected prime minister he would ensure new dam projects are approved more quickly to help Hydro-Québec produce more as quickly as possible.
“No more double studies and obstacles of all kinds,” he announced.
Indictment of the block
Mr. Poilievre sometimes accused the NDP-Liberal coalition – in English – and sometimes the Bloc Québécois-Liberal Party coalition – in French – of impoverishing Canadians.
“If Quebecers want to get rid of Justin Trudeau for good, only the Conservative Party can really replace him,” he said.
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