Pierre Poilievre uses Mississauga to denounce federal spending and calls for early election

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says “the world is watching” as political confusion swirls in Ottawa.

Speaking during a brief stop in Mississauga this afternoon (Dec. 17), Poilievre took the opportunity to call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an early election over the moves announced in the government’s economic forecast in the quake of the resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Poilievre said the resignation of Freeland and the chaos that followed overshadowed the news that Canada now has a financial deficit of $62 billion, well beyond the predicted amount and a number that the opposition leader said is unsustainable.

He said that the news of the deficit couldn’t escape the eyes of those involved in global financial markets and has put Canada in the position of having to pay $1 billion in interest each month.

Other fallout, he said, has led to a weakened Canadian dollar.

“A $62 billion dollar deficit. Global markets took note and the dollar plunged below 70 cents us, the lowest it has been in ages,” said  Poilievre. “What does that mean? It means your dollar buys less fuel, food, clothing and other internationally priced commodities that all become automatically more expensive for Canadians. Our dollars are now worth less.”

He said the world financial markets were watching to see if Canada would go beyond the $40 million deficit mark as had been feared and that puts the country in a weaker financial position when dealing with global business partners.

Poilievre also said Canada is now being openly mocked for the way it has handled the debt and the Freeland situation.

“Now (U.S. President Donald) Mr. Trump is mocking us because we have a prime minister and a government that has become ridiculous and weak, a government that has lost control. Lost control of our borders, lost control of immigration, lost control of spending, of inflation and our national debt,” said Poilievre.

He went on to say Trudeau should call an election early in the new year and urged NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to stop probing up the Liberal government and let Canadians decide the future direction of the country.