OTTAWA (AP) — Pierre Poilievre declared Saturday that he is running for the leadership of the federal Conservative Party and vowed to give Canadians back control of their lives if he becomes prime minister.
Poilievre, 42, is a star among the grassroots for his energy and enthusiasm for conservative ideas and ideology.
He has been a deputy since 2004 and currently serves as the party’s financial critic, and in recent months has been criticizing the Liberal government for rising inflation rates.
He returned to that theme in his launch video, also suggesting that the Liberals have used COVID-19 as a political opportunity to attack small businesses, truckers and other Canadians.
“Trudeau thinks he’s your boss. He has it backwards,” he says in the video.
“You are the boss. That is why I am running for prime minister.”
The contest for the leadership of the Conservative Party has not formally started: the post became vacant last Wednesday when MPs rejected leader Erin O’Toole after months of internal tensions.
The party is still figuring out the rules and length of the contest, and it is unclear when the vote will take place.
However, Poilievre’s entrance was highly anticipated; Within minutes of posting the video of him, members of the online caucus were already flocking to his side to offer their support and endorsement.
more to come
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Reference-www.thestar.com