Poilievre rails against 'corporate welfare,' while arguing for closer integration with U.K. and allies
LONDON, U.K. — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre argued for a new, tariff-free trading block between Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand while railing against protectionism and corporate and government “greed” during his first major keynote speech abroad as Conservative leader Tuesday.
Poilievre’s speech reprised many of his longstanding views that government should get out of the way of private entreprise while arguing that free markets and open trade are key to growing the economy — not tariffs.
“Free trade, free markets, free nations,” Poilievre said, summarizing the philosophy of economist Adam Smith.
Poilievre delivered the annual Margaret Thatcher speech during an invitation-only event organized by the Centre for Policy Studies, a London-based conservative think tank.
Speaking under grand portraits of Queen Charlotte and King George III in a regal room with ornate golden fixtures, Poilievre argued that Conservative parties need to focus on the wealth of working people.
“Conservatives have always known that the greatness of a nation lies in its working people,” he told the crowd of roughly 100.
Among them were former British Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss and a handful of British and Canadian Parliamentarians including Poilievre’s caucus members Tako van Popta, Eric Duncan and Alex Ruff.
At a time of rising uncertainty and protectionism, Poilievre argued that Canada needs to turn towards its oldest allies, increase the free-flow of good and workers and cut bureaucratic red tape that stunts growth and development.
To make that point, the Conservative leader quoted economist Adam Smith, former British prime ministers Winston Churchill and Thatcher, politician and poet Thomas Babington Macaulay and even pulled from the tale of Robin Hood.
The speech elaborated on a shorter one delivered Monday evening to a small gathering at the Carlton Club, a swanky private club that is considered the birthplace of the U.K.’s Conservative Party.
At both soirées, he argued for a closer alliance of CANZUK countries (Canada, U.K., Australia and New Zealand) and promised that a Conservative government would lower barriers to trade and mobility among allied countries.
He promised to implement automatic recognition of product and professional certifications (such as for nurses, doctors and engineers) between CANZUK countries.
He also committed to open up a future national energy and critical mineral stockpile to allies in times of crisis and war, but only if they allow tariff-free trade with Canada.
On Tuesday, Poilievre railed against socialism, protectionism and “green grifters” he argued filled their pockets thanks to net-zero policies that drove “energy and food costs up and paycheques down.”
He also took swipes at monopolies, “corporate welfare,” professional licensing bodies and inflation, which he described as “the most unjust and immoral tax.”
“There is a backlash because working people across the western world have been thoroughly betrayed. Wages lag, housing is out of reach, energy costs soar, opportunities blocked, and the silent thief of inflation has robbed buying power,” he said.
“The state took from hardworking many to enrich the privileged few.”
But he reserved his harshest criticism for billionaires and unnamed large corporations he accused of using lobbyists to get government funding and get richer at the expense of taxpayers.
“When corporations get ahead by having the best lobbyist not the best product, when those with money turn it into government power and turn that power back into more government money, then working people pay the price,” he said.
“If a man is greedy, he will find a way to get rich by taking what government forces others to pay — just as flies take honey without making any.”
He also threw a very small dart at the British by criticizing regulations that he said prevent Canadian beef producers from selling throughout the U.K.
“We must remove these types of obstacles so all of you can enjoy the heavenly splendor of beef from rural Alberta,” the Alberta MP said with a laugh.
The speech earned him a standing ovation from attendees, with one British MP describing it as an “absolutely incredible” defense of capitalism.
“He was so positive, and I think that’s something that we can learn as British Conservatives moving forward,” Conservative MP Andrew Bowie told reporters after the speech.
Before the speech, Poilievre met with various British politicians, according to his official schedule.
His office has so far refused to provide a list of whom he was meeting with, though Poilievre told National Post he was sitting down with U.K. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch as he entered a building of MP offices next to Westminster Tuesday morning.
He later told reporters he also met with the Conservative Shadow Foreign Minister Priti Patel and other members of the U.K. House of Commons and House of Lords.
In an interview with English newspaper The Times before heading to London, Poilievre also said he expected to meet with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and “some” governing Labour party representatives.
Tuesday afternoon in London, he told reporters that Farage was not on his meeting schedule at that point.
With immigration dominating the political discussion in the U.K. and chatter abounding about re-uniting Britain’s two splintered right-wing parties (Reform and Conservative), both issues are likely to arise in Poilievre’s chats.
When asked if any conservatives had sought advice on how to “unite the right” the way Stephen Harper had done with the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties in 2003, Poilievre smirked but demurred.
“They’ll have to figure that one out for themselves,” he responded twice.
Poilievre also confirmed that he’d discussed immigration during the trip, but did not offer any detail.
National Post
cnardi@postmedia.com
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here.