Portage-Lisgar MP Branden Leslie has relayed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's call for a non-confidence vote in the House of Commons in order to trigger what they are calling a "carbon tax election".
Leslie is back in Ottawa and says he is ready for Parliament to resume in a few days, with caucus meetings scheduled over the weekend.
"It seems like the right time to go to an election, at least in my view. And I think most people I've talked to feel the same. Just like our leader, Pierre Poilievre, I'm echoing his call for a carbon tax election to be held immediately. Hopefully, next week we will be moving a vote of non-confidence to allow the NDP to put their money where their mouth is," said Leslie.
"I'm a firm believer that we should go to the polls. The NDP should pull their support, and we should let Canadians decide if they want to continue down the path of crime, chaos, corruption, and high prices, or if they want a different future for our country."
Leslie said the call for a carbon tax election stem from it being the most discussed issue he's encountered while talking to constituents.
"The cost of living has been driven up so much by the carbon tax—fuel, home heating, groceries. Everyone understands that. In fact, it went up 23 per cent earlier this spring. There’s a plan to quadruple the carbon tax to 61 cents per litre by 2030, despite strong opposition from people in our region and even premiers across the country."
He added, the Canadian Trucking Alliance recently reported that the carbon tax is adding approximately $2 billion to long-haul trucking costs this year, and this figure is expected to rise to $4 billion by 2030.
"Those costs are simply passed on to consumers. So, the easiest way to ease this cost-of-living crisis is to axe the tax, and the best way to achieve that is by having the carbon tax election we so badly need."
Leslie dismissed the NDP's recent distancing from the Liberals as a "media stunt," saying it was in response to growing public anger with the Liberal government.
"This is the longest-lasting minority Parliament ever, and it’s clearly angering people. The NDP think they can differentiate themselves by saying they're not like the Liberals, but they've voted in favour of carbon tax increases and other questionable policies. It’s just a stunt."
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He also called on the Bloc Québécois to join the Conservatives in forcing an election.
Leslie explained that constituents often ask how an election can be triggered.
"People ask, ‘Can you vote non-confidence in this government?’ And we've done that dozens of times. In the past year alone, I've voted more than 15 times against this government, but the NDP and Bloc Québécois keep propping them up. That’s why we're calling on them to abandon their support, side with the Conservatives, and let Canadians decide whether they want this to continue."
He added that while the NDP has had many opportunities to break away from the Liberals, they've consistently voted in favour of higher taxes and what he described as reckless spending.
"It’s time for the NDP to ‘buck up’ and say, ‘We don't support you anymore, and we want Canadians to decide.’"
Leslie said he is eager to see how the NDP will act, questioning whether they have the courage to force an election or will "bow down" to their leader to prolong their time in office.
"It’s the first week back in Parliament, and it’s going to be a raucous affair. We've all talked to constituents across the country, heard their frustrations and challenges. I'm looking forward to hearing from my colleagues, but my guess is we've all heard the same: the election can't come soon enough. We need this carbon tax election."