Author: Brad Tennant
“They’re idiots. They’re complete idiots.”
Poilievre isn’t one to beat around the bush. He’ll tell you exactly what he thinks.
The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada recently met with Jordan Peterson and sharply critiqued Canada’s economic and policy direction while laying out his vision for change.
The hour-long conversation touched on everything from rising living costs and bureaucratic inefficiencies to Canada’s stalled energy ambitions just when our allies are screaming for natural gas.
Business leaders should pay attention to Poilievre. His remarks concisely articulate how he plans to approach the economy and competitiveness if he becomes prime minister this year: Poilievre wants a freer market and less government regulation, waste and folly. This will boost employment and cut home prices and inflation. He wants businesspeople to speak up for themselves.
Economic challenges and corporate struggles
Poilievre delivered a stark assessment of Canada’s economic performance, pointing to gaps in productivity and investment that he believes force businesses to move operations south to the detriment of Canada’s working class.
“Canadian workers are falling behind,” Poilievre said. “Companies can’t compete here, and they’re leaving for places like Florida and Ohio where it’s easier to do business.”
He emphasized the urgency of action, pointing out that annual business investment in Canada lags that in the United States—$15,000 per worker compared with $22,800, both in USD.
To reverse this trend, Poilievre proposed slashing regulatory barriers and incentivizing investment. His plan prioritized creating an environment where businesses can thrive without excessive cost and regulation.
Housing and infrastructure inefficiencies
Throughout the interview, Poilievre also identified high housing costs as a barrier to growth, blaming red tape and municipal bureaucracies for driving up costs and discouraging the development needed to shelter a surging population.
Poilievre criticized government housing subsidies, arguing that they divert capital to bureaucrats rather than to job creators and tradespeople building homes.
He said he planned to shake up Canada’s housing market to bring down the price of homes and make home ownership more attainable for working-class Canadians again.
His solution to spur construction included incentives for municipalities to cut development charges and streamline the permitting process. He made it clear that he is willing to withhold funds from municipalities that do not comply.
Energy development and missed opportunities
It was evident throughout the discussion that Poilievre is passionate about bolstering Canada’s energy sector.
His frustrations reflected those felt throughout conservative political circles.
Conservatives have seen energy executives get on stage with Steven Guilbeault and Rachel Notley and call for a consumer carbon tax.
He’s witnessed energy companies double down on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies while not fighting against the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, punitive changes to the federal environmental assessment regime, and sweeping new clean energy regulations.
He was frustrated and wanted to see companies stand up for their industry.
Poilievre described the country’s energy sector as hampered by federal policies that prevent the development of pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure. He pointed to missed opportunities for Canada, such as agreements with Germany and Japan, which have expressed interest in long-term LNG contracts.
“Why are we still importing oil when we’ve got the world’s third-biggest supply? Why is it we can’t export our natural gas?” he asked, calling for a renewed focus on resource development to bolster the economy and reduce global emissions by displacing coal in countries such as India.
For Poilievre, expanding Canada’s oil, gas, uranium, and lithium industries was an economic imperative and a path to reclaiming the country’s standing as a global energy leader. Business leaders need to step up and help fight for their sector.
What should business leaders take away?
Poilievre is a no-nonsense leader focused on delivering results for the working class. While his approach differs drastically from the government’s, business leaders will find ample support and opportunities when working with a Poilievre government.
Rethink your communications approach
Poilievre wanted to see business leaders defending and advocating for their interests and communicating their companies’ value to Canadians.
His calls go back to his article from May last year, where he attacked many in the business community for cozying up to high-tax and anti-resource Liberals.
Business leaders must stop talking to politicians and start talking to Canadians. If Poilievre hears support for your cause at voters’ doors , you’re on the right track.
Return to free market principles
Poilievre distrusts corporate Canada, criticizing corporate “elites” for neglecting to stand up for the interests of their employees and customers.
However, Poilievre’s populist-oriented communications approach is not anti-business. Instead, Canada’s business community should expect a return to free-market principles.
In the last year, Poilievre has been quick to attack Canada’s largest oligarchies for driving up the cost of living for Canadians: think groceries, banking, and telecommunications. He continues to argue that competition will lower prices for consumers, and his emphasis on opening free-market competition is something business leaders should expect to continue should Poilievre assume office.
Streamlining regulation and incentivizing investment
Similarly, Canada’s business community should answer Poilievre’s call to streamline industry regulations, cut red tape, and address regulatory bottlenecks that hamper economic growth.
These opportunities are especially pertinent to Canada’s housing development and energy sectors.
Poilievre and his team are seeking input from job creators nationwide on how the government and industry can partner to incentivize investment, lower operating costs, and grow Canadian businesses here at home.
Business leaders should proactively engage with the Conservatives to advance pro-worker policies that retain jobs and bolster economic prosperity in local communities.
Focus on inflation and economic stability
While Poilievre commits to growing private sector industries, he also wants to cut government spending to reduce inflation.
Poilievre’s economic policies suggest a return to fiscal discipline not seen in Canada for more than a decade.
This move will curb increasing costs for business owners and reduce living costs for working Canadians in high-demand job markets.
Working for the working class
Poilievre will continue to call upon the country’s business leaders to demonstrate their value to Canadians. This includes offering fairer compensation, better working conditions, and more job opportunities in local communities rather than increasing executive bonuses.
Businesses and industries that can get Canadians on their side are more likely to succeed when working with a Poilievre government, suggesting that business leaders look inward before knocking on the leader’s door looking for support.
Conclusion
Throughout the interview, Poilievre returned to themes of affordability and opportunity, presenting his ideas as solutions to many Canadians’ struggles.
He linked economic growth to broader social goals such as home ownership, family formation, and community safety, arguing that these are essential to a prosperous society.
Overall, Canada’s business community should plan now to seize the opportunities Poilievre laid out. Those who pay attention and follow this blueprint with integrity will find a friend in a Poilievre government.