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WATCH: Pierre Poilievre draws huge crowd in Kelowna

Federal Conservative leadership candidate talks freedom, housing

Over one thousand people packed the Sunset Ranch Golf Course on Saturday, enduring the cold to hear federal Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre.

It was the Carlton MP’s first stop in the city so far in the campaign. He was introduced by Kelowna MP Tracy Gray and received a roaring ovation from supporters.

“If you don’t take an interest in politics, politics will take an interest in you,” Poilievre said in his opening remarks.

One word Poilievre used throughout his speech was freedom and wanting to assure supporters that they would have it back if he is selected as the party’s leader, and they win the next general election.

“People feel they have lost control of their lives in this country. The reason I’m running for prime minister is to put people back in control of your life, by making Canada the freest nation on earth,” Poilievre said.

The leadership hopeful railed against vaccine policies, touted a plan for affordable housing in Canada, addressing the need for more family doctors across the nation, and eliminating the Liberal government’s infrastructure bank.

Poilievre's biggest competition so far in the leadership contest is former Progressive Conservative party leader Jean Charest. Also in the running are Patrick Brown, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison and Roman Baber.

The party will pick a new leader on Sept. 10.

Published 2022-04-09 by Connor Chan

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