Poilievre launches campaign in Ottawa area before heading to Toronto

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OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre launched his campaign on Sunday at the Museum of History across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill, arguing that his party is in the race to “make a change” from the Liberal status quo.

Poilievre beat Prime Minister Mark Carney to the punch, speaking half an hour before Carney was scheduled to ask Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament and send Canadians to the polls next month.

“I will protect this country and put Canada first,” said Poilievre, in a speech that excoriated the Liberal government’s record of a “lost decade,” before addressing the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. “We will stare down this unprovoked threat with steely resolve.”

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Poilievre also used the speech to introduce himself to Canadians, explaining that he “was born to a 16 year old single mother who put me up for adoption to two school teachers.” Those “humble beginnings” gave him a sense of why Canada is special, said Poilievre.

The Conservative will head to Toronto this afternoon, with events scheduled in the Greater Toronto Area on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before heading to Quebec on Wednesday.

More to come.

National Post

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