With just days before the Liberal government presents its long-awaited federal budget, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre won’t say whether his party will repeal the legislation, but will instead insist he needs to read the document before making a decision.
“I don’t have telepathic powers to tell you what’s in it,” Poilievre said in an interview on Rosemary Barton Live broadcast Sunday morning. “If it could reduce the cost of living, I support an affordable budget for affordable living.”
The Conservatives have made some key demands to the Liberals for the budget, including eliminating the industrial carbon tax and keeping the deficit below $42 billion.
When asked by host Rosemary BArton why would he accept an ad.With a deficit of up to $42 billion, Poilievre said it’s “not good, but it’s the disastrous state we’re in after 10 years of Liberal government.”
“I would like a zero deficit, but the Liberals have gotten us into this mess and I work with what I have.”
Sources say the Conservative leadership does not want an election at this time, but is opposed to voting on the next budget. Sources say the most likely path would be for some of the NDP’s seven MPs to abstain from voting, allowing the budget to pass.
When asked by Barton if his comments meant he would not support the budget, Poilievre reiterated that he has not yet seen the document and wants the Liberals to introduce a budget that makes life more affordable for Canadians.
“If the government was in collaborative mode, recognizing that it only has a minority, it would accept my ideas on an affordable budget for an affordable Canada,” he added.
The Liberal government will need the cooperation of at least one other party to pass the budget, which will be tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Since the budget is a vote of confidence, Canadians could face another federal election if it is not approved.
CBC News chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Official Opposition, about the disintegration of trade talks between Canada and the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled Saturday that he is prepared to contest a budget election if the time comes. He also said he is “100 percent confident that this budget is the right budget for this country, at this time.”
“This is not a game. This is a critical moment in the global economy, or an important moment in the global economy. It is critical for our country,” Carney said before boarding the plane to return home after the APEC summit in South Korea.
NDP also withholds budget judgment
The Liberals could solve this political conundrum if the NDP supports their budget or abstains from the vote. But like Poilievre, interim NDP Leader Don Davies told Barton on Friday that he needs to read the document before making a decision.
“We’ve said we want a budget that invests. Cutting good, family-supporting jobs that exist in the public service at a time when we want to create jobs doesn’t seem right to us. But let’s see where the cuts are,” Davies said.
Asked if he wants an election, Davies said: “Personally, I don’t think Canadians want an election… and frankly, given the serious problems we face, I’m not sure an election would be good for the country right now.”
Both the Conservative and NDP caucuses are grappling with what to do with the budget and whether they want to be part of an effort to trigger an election by rejecting it, multiple sources told CBC News earlier this week.
According to sources, the Conservatives have held talks with the NDP and Bloc Québécois about how to approach the vote. CBC News is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly about internal discussions.
A senior NDP source and two Conservative sources say the path believed most likely is for some of the seven NDP MPs to abstain from voting, allowing the budget to pass.
When asked if everyone has to vote the same in their group, Davies told Barton that “in confidence measures, that’s the rule.” However, the interim NDP leader said abstentions are allowed.
“Our group is close, we are united. We have had many discussions about the upcoming budget, and we will meet Tuesday night and Wednesday to discuss this budget together. And we will make that decision together.”
The full interview with Poilievre will be broadcast on rosemary barton liveSunday at 10 a.m. ET.
