Trudeau says Tories ‘just want to tear things down’ in chest-thumping defence of budget

Justin Trudeau has come out firing after the Liberals revealed their 2024 budget.

Speaking to his caucus in Ottawa this morning, the prime minister laid into his Conservative rivals, saying “Canadians need responsible leadership right now."

“There are politicians out there who just want to rile people up and tear things down, who don’t think it’s the government’s job to step up to make sure the economy is fair for everyone,” he said, surrounded by applauding Liberal MPs.

“Conservatives have already said they’re voting against this budget – they’re voting against fairness, they will be voting against asking the ultra-rich to pay their share. Canadians need responsible leadership right now: leaders who come to them with solutions.”

For his chest-thumping peroration, Trudeau said: “This budget lays out a plan to make sure Canadians can build homes, build companies, build solutions and make the best country in the world even better. So let’s get to it, together – let’s build a country that’s stronger, more prosperous and fair for every generation.”

The budget, delivered by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in the House of Commons on Tuesday, included a pledge to build nearly four million homes by 2031, a capital gains tax hike and a new disability benefit.

Trudeau, Freeland and Minister of Housing Sean Fraser have been touring Canada in recent weeks to promote the budget, with particular emphasis on “generational fairness” and the need to help Millennials and Generation Z “realize the Canadian promise” of middle-class life.

Millennials – those born between 1981 and 1996 – became the largest voting cohort in Canada earlier this year, supplanting the long-reigning Baby Boomer generation.

Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) are now the third-largest generation in the country, beating out Generation X (born 1966 to 1980).

Trudeau said the budget would balance itself.

9 budgets later, Canadians have their 9th deficit, nearly $40 billion in new spending & double the rent & mortgage payments. Not worth the cost. pic.twitter.com/LnkRsm1CnC

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) April 16, 2024

Recent national polls have found that younger generations, once major supporters of the Trudeau Liberals, now prefer the Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre.

Poilievre, speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, said the Liberals have “doubled the rent, doubled mortgage payments, doubled the needed down payment for a home.”

“Now, he’s adding $40 billion of new debt and new spending,” he said, adding: “That’s why Conservatives will vote against this wasteful, inflationary budget that is like a pyromaniac spraying gas on the inflationary fire that he lit.”

The leader of the opposition also called for a “carbon tax election.”