Poilievre vows to tackle unemployment, cost of housing

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addressed young Canadians at an event Thursday night in Toronto, arguing the Liberals are sacrificing their future.

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Speaking at a podium with a sign that read “Work. Home. Hope,” Poilievre criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government, emphasizing that the prime minister has yet to reach an agreement with US President Donald Trump to end the tariffs.

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The Opposition Leader also condemned Carney's recent speech at the University of Ottawa, where he said the fall budget would spur “unprecedented” levels of private sector investment but warned there would be sacrifices ahead.

While Carney said the economy was holding up for now despite Trump's tariff barriers, he said in his speech that “if we don't act now, the pressure will only grow” and promised his plan would include “generational investments.”

Poilievre said young people had given more than previous generations because of “Liberal policies” and promised Conservatives would help tackle issues such as unemployment and housing costs.

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He repeated several longstanding Conservative policies, such as repealing anti-development laws, getting rid of the industrial carbon tax, cutting taxes and limiting government spending, saying they would help young Canadians.

Poilievre said the Conservatives have a plan for young people that includes raising take-home pay and introducing a free enterprise system to create high-paying jobs.

“Mr. Carney, the young people in this room and across the country have already sacrificed enough,” Poilievre said. “They worked hard, they did everything right and they deserve a bright future full of homes, jobs and hope.”

Ahead of next week's federal budget, the Conservatives sent fundraising emails to supporters saying there could be a snap election and warning the party “must be prepared”.

Several Conservative MPs attended the event, including Eric Melillo, Jonathan Rowe and Melissa Lanzman. Many young people stood on stage behind Poilevre holding signs with messages like: “Don't sacrifice my future.”

“Canada's youth are the best and brightest in the world, and they deserve the same future,” Poilievre said.