Initial Thoughts
To me, the Conservative Party has always been the party of law and order, who makes sensible decisions for all Canadians. That’s the short version. As often as they can, people, inside and outside of politics like to compare them directly to the Republicans in the United States. This is not exactly the same for most though. Yes, there are some who want to give Canada to the Unites States. The rest seem to want to help the soverign nation of Canada be its best in a sensible sustainable way long term. Change for better or worse is always possible for any party. That’s why I’m doing all this research, so I can make a good decision. I certainly don’t want any political party to bend over and give us away to strangers who will mistreat what many have worked so hard for.
Here’s a to the point bio I found about Pierre Pollievre on the CPC Website.
Pierre Poilievre is a life-long conservative, champion of a free market, and fighter for people taking ownership of and responsibility for their own futures.
Pierre served as a trusted, senior cabinet minister in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government and has been elected, and re-elected, to serve the people of Carleton as their Member of Parliament seven consecutive times.
Pierre is running to be the Prime Minister of Canada. He believes in a country where the state is servant, not master. Where smaller government makes room for bigger citizens. Where people have the freedom to build a business without red tape and heavy tax.
To make room for personal freedom and responsibility, he believes in limiting government. He has been one of the loudest voices in the past several years fighting out-of-control deficit spending and tax increases, as Liberal addiction to debt becomes a crisis.
Pierre was one of the first voices to highlight the inflation crisis that this country faces, pointing out that the sharp increases represent an “inflation tax”, a sneaky way for governments to raise money by raising prices for the people. Today, more than half of families in Canada say they struggle just to feed themselves.
He also was one of the first voices to speak up against unscientific mandates and unacceptable limits on the freedoms of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pierre believes that freedom is critical for this country and has pressed the government to commit to ending its politicized and divisive response.
Pierre, his wife Anaida, and their children Valentina and Cruz call the Eastern Ontario village of Greely home. Pierre grew up in Calgary and graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree in International Relations.
I appreciate how much faster that was to piece together than it was for Jagmeet Singh, or the others, who were non existent.
The Guy in My Riding Stephen Ellis
Dr. Stephen Ellis embodies the dedication and experience essential for strong representation of Cumberland-Colchester in this critical federal election. His extensive medical career has provided him with a profound understanding of the healthcare challenges faced by our communities. As a devoted father and grandfather residing in the region, Dr. Stephen Ellis is passionate about ensuring that Nova Scotia, and specifically Cumberland-Colchester, emerges stronger than ever.
In these challenging times, strong leadership in Ottawa is crucial to navigate complex international relations and advocate effectively for your interests. Dr. Stephen Ellis’ deep-rooted connection to our community ensures he comprehends the unique needs and aspirations of everyone in this area. His unwavering commitment to public service and community well-being positions him as the advocate Cumberland-Colchester needs to effectively address both domestic and international policy challenges.
Dr. Stephen Ellis, first elected in 2021 as a Member of Parliament, was also vice-chair of the Standing Committee for Health (HESA), and the Medical Assistance in Dying (MaiD) committee.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Stephen Ellis was raised in Lincoln, New Brunswick, alongside his brother and parents. After graduating as valedictorian from Oromocto High School, he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree at Dalhousie University, graduating cum laude. He continued at Dalhousie University School of Medicine, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine in 1993.
Military Service
To support his medical education, Dr. Stephen Ellis joined the Medical Officer Training Program of the Canadian Armed Forces. As a medical doctor with the Royal Canadian Air Force, he rose to the rank of captain and served at bases in Shearwater, Nova Scotia, and Comox, British Columbia. His service included missions across Canada and overseas in the Middle East, earning him the Special Service Medal and the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal. His dedication to the military community continued as he served as Honorary Colonel of the Nova Scotia Highlanders for three years.
Medical Career
In 1999, Dr. Stephen Ellis established his medical practice in Truro, Nova Scotia, where he served as a family physician for over two decades. His practice encompassed inpatient care, emergency room services, and a chronic pain clinic, reflecting his comprehensive approach to healthcare.
Commitment to Cumberland-Colchester
Dr. Stephen Ellis’ commitment to community service is evident through his involvement in various initiatives. He was the principal founder of the Truro Walk with a Doc program and has actively participated in the Bible Hill Fire Brigade, Scouts Canada, minor hockey, and the Guatemala Outreach Project. His dedication to promoting health and well-being extends beyond his medical practice into the heart of the community.
Family
Dr. Stephen Ellis has been married to his wife, Deborah, for 32 years. Together, they have three adult children—Samantha, Allison, and Zachary—and are proud grandparents to Lina and Livy. An advocate for an active lifestyle, Dr. Stephen Ellis enjoys cycling, golfing, playing hockey, and occasionally visiting the gym.
Dr. Stephen Ellis’ diverse background and steadfast dedication position him uniquely to represent and serve the people of Cumberland-Colchester with integrity and passion.
Party Platform – From CBC
Climate Change
Conservatives would repeal all carbon pricing, including on industrial emitters. They would boost incentives (e.g., expand tax credits) for businesses that reduce emissions and to promote clean energy technologies. The party hasn’t announced its carbon emissions reduction target. It would support an east-west pipeline and would approve projects such as LNG Quebec. The party would be open to exporting oil from the Port of Churchill and has pledged to speed up development of the port.
Cost Of Living
The Conservatives say they would drop the tax rate on the lowest income tax bracket from 15 per cent to 12.75 per cent. They would defer capital gains taxes if the proceeds are reinvested in Canada. They would increase the annual TFSA contribution limit by $5,000 a year, provided the money is invested in Canadian companies. The party would remove the GST on new homes sold for under $1.3 million. They promise to allow working seniors with an annual income under $42,000 to earn as much as $34,000 without paying taxes, and let seniors continue to contribute to RRSPs until the age of 73, rather than the current limit of 71. The party would also allow travelling trades workers to write off the full cost of food, transportation and accommodation.
Defence
The Conservatives would reinforce the military and commit to the NATO spending target for member nations (two per cent of gross domestic product). They say “extra revenue from expanded trade with the U.S.” would go to the Armed Forces. They say they would double the size of the 1st Patrol Group of the Canadian Rangers from 2,000 to 4,000 rangers. They would acquire two additional polar icebreakers for the Royal Canadian Navy and deliver the two polar icebreakers currently being built for the Coast Guard by 2029. They would build at least one permanent Arctic military base within two years.
Foreign Policy
The Conservatives would slash foreign aid and divert the money to Canada’s military. They would support Ukraine by selling Canadian oil from proposed pipeline projects like Energy East, which TransCanada cancelled in 2017. They want Ukraine to be part of all peace negotiations related to the war. The party is against having Russia join the G7.
Government Spending
Conservatives would cut government support for businesses and foreign aid. They plan to defund the CBC but maintain Radio-Canada. They would cut the federal public service and have called for public servants to be given clear assignments and be monitored to ensure they’re completing tasks. The Conservatives don’t plan on making “big changes” to the equalization program.
Housing
he Conservatives would cut the GST on new homes up to $1.3 million. They would tie federal funding to cities to the number of housing starts. Cities or municipalities would be expected to increase the number of homes they build by 15 per cent each year; they would offer bonuses to municipalities that surpass that target. They would sell off 15 per cent of federally owned buildings so the land can be used to build affordable homes. They would implement a NIMBY (not in my backyard) fine on municipalities that block construction because of “egregious” opposition from local residents.
Immigration
They promise to reduce the number of non-permanent residents in Quebec and would grant the province more powers to choose temporary immigrants. They would tie Canada’s population growth rate to a level that’s below the number of new homes built, and would also consider factors such as access to health care and jobs. They would cap the number of asylum seekers Canada receives. They promise to crack down on fraud linked to international students and temporary workers.
Infrastructure
The Conservatives would commit $1 billion over three years to the construction of a road connecting First Nations communities and the critical mineral deposits in the Ring of Fire to the Ontario highway network, while allowing companies investing in the Ring of Fire to pay a share of their federal corporate taxes to local First Nations. They would designate areas as “shovel-ready” zones to accelerate the construction of a liquefied natural gas project in Quebec. They would repeal the federal government’s Impact Assessment Act (C-69), which allows federal regulators to consider the potential environmental and social impacts of various resource and infrastructure projects. They want to create a national energy corridor that would make it easier to fast-track approvals for large-scale infrastructure projects. The party would be open to exporting oil from the Port of Churchill.
US Relations
The party would not remove counter-tariffs until the U.S. removes all of its tariffs. They say a Conservative government would put almost all of the collected tariffs into tax relief, with a sum set aside for targeted relief for workers hit hardest by U.S. tariffs. The Conservatives would implement tax cuts. They would take the GST off the sale of new Canadian-made cars as long as Trump’s tariffs are in place.
Their biggest issue is the “I’m a Conservative, so that means I want to kiss Donald Trump’s butt all the time” mentality that goes around. There are no humans on earth, political or not, who actually want to do that. I haven’t fully researched that part, but I’m pretty sure it’s true.