Where the six Conservative leadership candidates stand on key policy issues?

Six candidates are officially on the ballot to become the Conservative Party’s next leader. In holding rallies, appearing in media interviews, and preparing for the soon-approaching party debates, each contender has started to trickle out details of their platforms. Here’s a snapshot of where the candidates stand on the economy, housing, climate, defence and social issues. Want to know more about the Conservative candidates and their political pasts? Read our bios.
Economy and Inflation
Scott Aitchison: In calling inflation a real problem and campaigning on the stance that “the last thing Canadians need are higher taxes,” Aitchison has pledged to end supply management to help lower grocery bills for families. He has also said Canada needs a federal government that “lowers taxes, unleashes the full economic power of Canada, and gets our budget back on the path to balance.” Roman Baber: While Baber hasn’t put forward concrete commitments related to the economy, he has spoken at length about the negative economic impacts of pandemic-related lockdowns on small businesses and workers.
Patrick Brown: Brown dubs himself a “strong” fiscal conservative, touting his experience as a big-city mayor lowering taxes and delivering balanced budgets. He says “reckless” federal spending needs to end but doesn’t provide detail on what programs he would cut. Brown has also touted the steps he’s taken through the pandemic to ensure an end to public health restrictions impacting small businesses.
Jean Charest: Charest is running on a commitment to balance the budget, rein in federal spending, and bring tax relief to Canadians so wage growth is more closely aligned to rising inflation. He hasn’t provided detail on what programs he’d slash to reach those objectives. Charest says tax policy should be more flexible to respond to unforeseen circumstances, such as the war in Ukraine.
Leslyn Lewis: Promising to “phase out” the deficit and balance the budget, Lewis is campaigning on supporting small and medium-sized businesses as a main employer of Canadians. She’s accused the government of selfishly “bankrupting” future generations and says as leader she’d cut red tape, and would uphold supply management to protect Canadian producers.
Pierre Poilievre: Poilievre has made tackling inflation one of the focuses of his campaign. Through voicing concern over the rising cost of living, what he views as government overspending, and calling out the Bank of Canada for its monetary policy, Poilievre has pledged to phase out “inflationary deficits” by culling spending and reversing Liberal policies and programs. He’s also championed cryptocurrency, vowing to make Canada the “Blockchain Capital of the World.”
Source: ctvnews.ca