The Leader of Canada's Official Opposition saw local investment firsthand and sounded off on a variety of issues while visiting Windsor.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre was in Windsor on Wednesday for several workshops and private events.
One of his stops was to the UHC Hub of Opportunities to see the work in stocking the area's food banks ahead of the upcoming holiday season, and how it prepares newcomers for the Canadian workforce. He also visited a business on Windsor's Via Italia and toured a local manufacturer.
Poilievre provided WindsorNewsToday.ca with an extensive interview covering a series of topics. He spoke with the newsroom for about 19 minutes, almost double the time allotted.
He said it was time for Canadians to go back to "common sense" and fight the rising taxes and crime that he said has taken place during the eight years of Justin Trudeau's leadership.
"Everything costs more, work doesn't pay, housing costs have doubled," said Poilievre. "Crime and chaos, drugs and disorder are common in our streets. But, the good news is that it wasn't like this before Trudeau, and it won't be like this after he's gone."
Despite rising inflation being beyond the control of the federal government, and guidelines on rent being a provincial issue, Poilievre continued to point out the struggle many Canadians face keeping a roof over their heads.
"The average mortgage has gone from $1,400 before Trudeau, to $3,500, and the average rent has gone from $950 to $2,000," said Poilievre. "This is the fastest increase in housing costs in Canadian history."
When pressed further on interest rates and the Ontario government's rent-control reforms, Poilievre clarified his answer by saying federal government policies are driving interest rates and inflation up, and that rent is up in every Canadian province.
The comments came on the same day the federal government announced a $157-million low-interest loan package to build hundreds of rental units in London and St. Thomas.
Poilievre also criticized federal housing minister Sean Fraser for housing starts being down, even as the federal government, in September, committed $74-million to build additional homes in London-Middlesex.
He discussed the government's $10-per-day daycare plan, adding that if Canadians elect a Conservative government, he would order a report showing where the money is allocated, to ensure it is going to as many families as it is supposed to.
On foreign interference in Canadian democracy, a topic Poilievre has been very vocal about, he accused the government of ignoring potential benefits to Trudeau.
"I can tell you what I've seen, and what I have seen is that there is pervasive interference by foreign dictatorships, both to help Trudeau win elections, but also to intimidate and terrorize Iranian-Canadians here in this country, and they tell me this to my face," said Poilievre.
You can hear Adelle Loiselle's interview with Poilievre in its entirety below.
