Poilievre mentioned supporting farmers in victory speech
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Pierre Poilievre is the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
The Ontario MP for Nepean-Carleton won 68.15 per cent of the vote on the first ballot to secure the victory on Saturday.
Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis, Roman Baber and Scott Aitchison rounded out the field of leadership hopefuls.
Poilievre mentioned supporting farmers during his victory speech.
While highlighting how a Conservative government under his leadership would ensure Canadian technology and energy are preferred over “foreign dictatorships,” Poilievre said, “that also includes repatriating food production by standing with our farmers here at home.
“This (Liberal) government’s high energy taxes and proposed fertilizer cuts will only drive food production abroad.”
At least one member of the Canadian ag community took to social media to congratulate Poilievre on his victory.
“Congratulations @PierrePoilievre,” Kristjan Hebert, a farmer from Fairlight, Sask., tweeted on Sept. 10. “I look forward to future conversations on Ag policy to ensure the sustainability of our farm for my son and daughter. Bad #agpolicy is the#1 risk to #cdnag. Let’s all focus on making Canada the breadbasket superpower of the world!”
Prior to the leadership vote, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers asked leadership candidates their positions on certain ag issues.
The top priorities for Poilievre, as of July 17, “would be to ensure Canadian farmers have the tools they need to be successful including: a competitive regulatory and tax regime including scrapping the carbon tax; access to labour; a dependable and efficient supply chain including building pipelines to get oil off rail to improve rail capacity for grain; regain access to global markets; and ensure Canadian farmers get credit for their conservation and stewardship.”
An ag representative of the Conservative caucus endorsed Poilievre during his leadership bid.
John Barlow, the Alberta MP for Foothills and shadow minister of agriculture, supported Poilievre as someone who can unite Canadians.
“Pierre was born and raised in southern Alberta, only a few minutes from my riding in Foothills,” Barlow said in a Feb. 5 Facebook video. “He understands the issues facing western Canadians. But being an MP in Ontario, he will help bridge the divide.”
Poilievre mentions farmers around the 17:38 mark of the video.