Questions for Tory leader

Monday, April 28 is election day in Canada.

Preliminary estimates released by Elections Canada showed 7.3 million voters cast their ballots at advance polls, a 25 per cent increase from the 5.8 million votes in the 2021 federal election.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has gone through this entire election campaign without taking even one remotely tough question from a reporter.

One of the reasons Poilievre is able to avoid tough questions is because he only takes four questions from reporters at each media availability, and doesn't allow follow-up questions, which are crucial for deeper understanding and ensuring accurate information.

In addition, Conservative staffers sometimes vet questions from reporters in advance.

What follows are 10 questions Poilievre should be asked:

1. Why hasn’t he allowed the media to travel with him on planes and buses, to cover his election campaign?

2. Is there an official Conservative Party policy that prevents local candidates from speaking unscripted to the media?

3. How does he define climate change and global warming? Do the two terms mean the same thing? Why hasn’t he committed to meeting any emissions reduction targets?

4. On March 25 he said: "What I will not do is commit to the oath of secrecy that the Liberals want to impose on me." When the leader of a political party gets a security clearance, it is done by CSIS and non-partisan civil servants, who do not share that information with the prime minister, political staff or cabinet ministers. So, why does he still refuse to get a security clearance?

5. He has said that his vision of “Canada First” is inclusive, and treats “all people, regardless of their race, as Canadians and Canadians first". Why then has he praised John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, whose legacy is tainted by racist and cruel policies toward Indigenous peoples and immigrants? Doesn't the "Canada First" slogan parallel white nationalist ideology?

6. Article II of the United Nations document Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide defines genocide. In the current Israel-Hamas war, does he think the actions of Israel constitute genocide against the Palestinan people?

7. According to an April 7 Angus Reid Institute report, 60% say their opinion of him is negative. Does he believe the polling is accurate? If yes, why does he think he is unpopular?

8. He said a Conservative government would use the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (notwithstanding clause) to override a provision to pass sentences with consecutive periods of parole ineligibility to ensure criminals who commit multiple murders "only come out in a box." Isn't that an attempt to use fear to try to get people to support him and his party, as there are no examples of a mass murderer ever being set free after a parole board decision?

9. The Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy assessed the fiscal credibility of the major parties. The Conservative platform was rated “pass” for realistic economic and fiscal assumptions, “pass” for responsible fiscal management, and “good” for transparency. The Liberal platform was given ratings of “good” across all three assessment principles. Doesn't that show the Liberal platform has greater fiscal credibility than the Conservative platform?

10. On April 23, he said he would give police the power to dismantle homeless encampments and arrest occupants. The (B.C.) Supreme Court and the Ontario Superior Court have ruled that dismantling a camp, when shelters don't have room to house the people in it, violates the charter right of life, liberty and security of the person. Is he concerned any new law on homeless encampments might face a charter challenge?

David Buckna, Kelowna