Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen accuses Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of “completely” losing sight of the needs of Canadians, calling on his government to manage the cost of living crisis, its use of the urgency and its reluctance to lift COVID-19 mandates.
In a speech to the federal Conservative caucus on Parliament Hill on Wednesday morning, Bergen took the opportunity after inviting cameras inside what is usually a closed-door event, to speak to struggling Canadians or feel frustrated with inflation and travel restrictions, and blame it squarely on the prime minister.
In doing so, Bergen also accused Trudeau’s party of being one that “plays politics and separates Canadians.”
“While millions of Canadians who can no longer travel to Canada can now, it is too late for so many others…These are milestones and memories that so many Canadians will never find again. That fact will be the Prime Minister’s legacy,” Bergen said.
“The Prime Minister has completely lost sight of what Canadians need, and that hurts you and your families.
While the Trudeau government has a role to play when it comes to affordability issues and federal travel measures, in response to similar attacks from the Conservatives in recent months, the Liberals have pointed out that issues such as the Inflation and airport delays were not problems unique to Canada and defended spending and restrictions during the pandemic as measures to ensure people were supported through the crisis.
In his speech, Bergen also referenced the Conservative Party’s roughly 600,000 membership, which has grown significantly thanks to the ongoing and at times fierce leadership race, saying the party is “strong, unified and big”.
With just over a week to go before the House of Commons adjourns for the summer, the Conservative Party is set to elect its new permanent leader in September, just before the start of the session. Fall of Parliament.
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