Wednesday August 20, 2025 | SURREY, BC [Posted at 11:57 am PT]
News analysis | by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre held his first news conference since winning a federal seat in the August 18 by-election in Battle River-Crowfoot.
He chose Surrey for this first pronouncement of newly articulated policy directions as well to include his support for a call to have a particular gang be listed as a terrorist organization.
Until now, Poilievre has been navigating his role as party leader without having a seat in the House of Commons following the loss of his Ottawa-area seat in the April 28 election.
As Poiievre returns to the national stage with policy and action drections for his party, the topics are much the same including a stronger economy that serves more Canadians as well as safe communities with a tough on crime approach.
But rather than the three-point rhythm of his critique and delivery of previous years, now Poilievre has shifted to a structure of four ideas.
Conservative priorities for Fall 2025:
A four-point overview of the Conservative direction for this fall was presented by Poilievre today, by setting what Poiilievre calls his party’s priorities.
- Stronger take home pay that buys more affordable goods
- Safer streets and communities by locking up criminals.
- Secure borders, with immigration that is under control, and drugs and guns kept out of our country.
- Self-reliant Canada that produces more of its own goods and reaches overseas markets, to reduce reliance on the US.
He also called for a Conservative Action Plan to counter the Liberal extortion crisis by calling for the Bishnoi gang to be listed as a terrorist organization. Poilievre said that would “allow police to arrest anyone who raises money, organizes, plans, does logistics, or recruitment and put those people in jail, or if they are non-Canadians then kick them out of this country”. The RCMP has linked the transnational Bishnoi gang (apparently with links to the government of India) to extortion in the South Asian community.
After this summer break, the House of Commons resumes sitting on September 15 (to December 12) — a four-month opportunity for Members of Parliament to move things forward for this country.
Critique of the Liberals:
Crimes, costs, immigration, housing prices are all out of control since 10 years of Liberals. “Carney promised to be different, instead, everything is worse,” said Polievre, saying “the deficit is worse.. the crime is rising … our economy is falling”. He claims investment is “fleeing our country” since Carney became prime minister, which also happens to be the same time period that the US trade war has been pressured upon Canada.
“Not a single new pipeline, not a single new proposal for an LNG plant, or nuclear plant, or port expansion has been made,” said Polievre while listing off some key projects that could all in some way include BC where he was speaking today.
Poilievre’s media session was livestreamed on X where the view count was at one point over 7,100. Local and national media who were in the room were allowed one question each.
“He sent his MPS home for the summer with crime up, inflation up, the deficit up, and elbows down,” said Poilievre about Carney today. Realistically, Carney likely realized he would need all available time and attention spent on dealing with the US trade war, adjusting key expenditure plans like military and defence, sorting out one or more ‘national projects’ to bolster the economy, and coming up with a budget for the fall sitting. All the while, giving many new MPs in particular the time to setup in their constituencies and get to know those constituencies.
Naming names:
Poilievre earmarked Sean Fraser as the current Justice minister for having been the immigration minister “who caused the immigration crisis” under the previous Liberal government, as well as the current housing minister “who caused the housing crisis” (Gregor Robertson, not mentioned by name).
“He has a public safety minister who doesn’t even know what a gun licence is,” said Poilievere, referring to Gary Anandasangaree.
With regard to Poilievre’s call today that the __ group be listed as a terrorist group, he mentioned Bramptom Mayor Patrick Brown by name, and mentioned two premiers (not by name — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and BC Premier David Eby) who have called for the same.
“The incompetence that you have to have to name such terrible ministers would be laughable if it weren’t so terrifying,” said Poilievre in his remarks today.
By holding his first post-by-election news announcement in Surrey today, there was indirect support today for Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke who, in June, also called for the Bishnoi gang to be listed as a terrorist group by the federal government.
Air Canada strike:
The point has not really risen too high into the public discourse, bu the Conservatives presented a private members bill (C-409) about four years ago in the House of Commons that, if it had passed, would have already seen flight attendants be paid for pre/post-flight work.
While Poilievre criticizes the Liberal now for failing to support that bill, the issue of flight attendant pay structure and Bill C-409 “An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code – hours of work of fllight attendants” (aka Flight Attendants Fairness Act) — tabled in November 2021 with first reading in June 2024 — never made it to a national level of discussion until this current strike.
==== RELATED:
- Poilievre wins Aug 18 by-election in Battle River-Crowfoot (August 18, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CONSERVATIVE PARTY | 45th PARLIAMENT of CANADA | BY-ELECTIONS
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