(Ottawa) Pierre Poilievre says he doesn’t like the profanity flags that Canadians wave to denounce Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“I don’t like flags and I don’t like rage,” the Conservative leader said at a year-end press conference in Ottawa on Friday. But I think we have to ask ourselves, “Why are people so angry?” And the answer is that they hurt. »
But the federal Conservative leader also says he understands the anger that fuels such protests — and that it’s up to government and politicians to respond.
These comments follow a blog post by his predecessor as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Erin O’Toole says she is concerned that these flags are symptomatic of growing political polarization in Canada, which normalizes rage and aggressive rhetoric.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Former leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Erin O’Toole
O’Toole said one of his wishes for 2023 is “to see less” of these anti-Trudeau flags across Canada. The former Conservative leader described the prime minister as a political adversary in the last federal election, not an enemy.
His critics have also targeted far-right and far-left actors, accusing them of contributing to a growing polarization in Canadian politics by pitting one against the other.
The flags have been particularly linked to the “freedom convoy” protests, whose members were wooed by Mr Poilievre during the Conservative leadership race.
The Conservative caucus had ousted Mr. O’Toole as leader just days after the protests began in Ottawa.
Asked about Mr. O’Toole’s remarks and the flags, Pierre Poilievre believes that it is easy for politicians to tell Canadians to stop complaining, but he maintains that many people are angry because they have problems, especially financial ones.
“Of course, let’s tell people to be more civilized. But as political leaders, let’s really try to solve the problems that have angered and hurt people. It’s our job to turn that pain into hope. »
Mr. Poilievre went on to suggest that many Canadians are struggling because the Liberal government is out of touch, before promising to be a prime minister “who brings people together and gives them hope that tomorrow will be better”.