Federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer made a stop in Parksville on Sunday, Sept. 15 as the federal election campaign is in full swing.
He spoke to a large crowd at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre.
It's a packed house tonight as federal Conservative leader @AndrewScheer speaks in #Parksville. @CPC_HQ #bcpoli @ParksvilleNews pic.twitter.com/wE4k2fRmrG
— Emily Vance (@Emily__Vance) September 16, 2019
Scheer took to the stage at approximately 6 p.m. and spoke for about 10 minutes.
He highlighted his plan for a universal tax cut, saying that if elected, his government would cut the tax rate on taxable income less than $47,630 from 15 per cent to 13.75 per cent.
He promised to repeal the carbon tax and spoke about the importance of protecting Canada’s rivers by ending the practice of dumping raw sewage into rivers, lakes and oceans.
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In an exclusive interview with The NEWS, Scheer said that he attended a roundtable earlier in the day about commercial and recreational salmon fisheries on Vancouver Island.
“A lot of frustration from representatives of those industries saying that they had some proposals that they would have liked the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to consider, but they were ignored without any real explanation,” said Scheer.
“I know that has a big impact. People aren’t able to come and whether it’s tourists coming to fish recreationally, or whether it’s for a commercial basis, that could take years to make up for those losses.”
He also addressed climate change, saying that Canada has the ability to export leading environmental technologies around the world.
“Our plan invests in technology, instead of taxes,” said Scheer.
Scheer promised to introduce a tax credit for environmentally friendly retrofitting on homes, and promised to eliminate the GST and HST on home heating bills.
He also called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to waive cabinet confidence in order for RCMP to investigate the SNC-Lavalin affair.
Earlier in the day, Scheer also made a quick stop in the Comox Valley outside the marina, speaking to a crowd of at least 50 people.
“Let’s keep going strong,” he said. “We’re going to win this thing on Oct. 21.”
North Island-Powell River candidate Shelley Downey introduced Scheer after he arrived around 4 p.m. Scheer spoke briefly, outlining some early campaign promises, including a pledge to eliminate the federal carbon tax. He also mentioned a new promise he had just made in the form of a new tax cut that would apply to people living in the lowest income bracket. It would reduce their rate from 15 per cent to 13.75 per cent.
Near the end, Scheer mentioned he’s been speaking with some Canadians who have apologized because they voted Liberal four years ago but would not do so this time around.
— with a file from Mike Chouinard