The economy, immigration and taxation were top of mind for Conservative Party leadership candidate Kevin O害羞草研究所橪eary during a campaign event in Nanaimo on Friday afternoon.
O害羞草研究所橪eary told the crowd of approximately 60 people at the Coast Bastion Hotel that he害羞草研究所檚 fine with immigration as long as it is done fairly, adding Canada spends too much on illegal immigrants from the United States.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unfair to the people trying to get into this country legally that others can walk into the border and take their space,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hat does it cost us as taxpayers? $500,000 per person before we actually send them back. Half a million per person. Free health care, free welfare, free everything because we are Canadians and we are nice people.害羞草研究所�
O害羞草研究所橪eary, former star of CBC TV show Dragons害羞草研究所� Den, said he wants to see individual and corporate tax rates slashed dramatically in an effort to boost the economy.
害羞草研究所淲e got to reduce our taxes and keep the capital at work,害羞草研究所� he said.
The Conservatives are set to hold their leadership election next month and O害羞草研究所橪eary is competing against 14 candidates, including Chris Alexander, Maxime Bernier, Kellie Leitch, Steven Blaney, Andrew Saxton, Lisa Raitt, Andrew Scheer, Erin O害羞草研究所橳oole and Michael Chong.
O害羞草研究所橪eary, who fielded numerous questions from the audience, said Canada害羞草研究所檚 economy needs to be better than it is today and tax revenue is wasted too often.
害羞草研究所淲e should be the envy of the Earth,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e just have to manage this place and get some men and women who are focused on hitting targets on our behalf. If you want to serve in government, you have to treat money of taxpayers as your own.害羞草研究所�
Speaking to the News Bulletin afterward, O害羞草研究所橪eary said his main focus is economic growth for Canada.
害羞草研究所淚f you don害羞草研究所檛 care about Canada害羞草研究所檚 economy growing then you shouldn害羞草研究所檛 vote for Kevin O害羞草研究所橪eary because I am not making 25 promises,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 am making one: three per cent economic growth. That害羞草研究所檚 all I care about.害羞草研究所�
O害羞草研究所橪eary said carbon tax needs to be eliminated nationwide as it deters people from starting a business in Canada and it isn害羞草研究所檛 effective in stopping wealthy companies from hurting the environment.
害羞草研究所淚f you let a rich company buy carbon credits it just keeps spewing filth into the environment,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 rich so it can just keep buying credits. How stupid.害羞草研究所�
The former television star said communities such as Nanaimo need to diversify their economies in order to have long-term economic success in the future. He said high tax rates hinder many investors from starting businesses on Vancouver Island.
害羞草研究所淲e need to start selling more stuff to India and China and that is why it is very important to start focusing on everything you can do to bring different forms of capital and revenue and investment from all around,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淧eople would love to invest in Canada, particularly this part. This is beautiful here. I would think you could boost your tourism significantly if you made it an interesting place and less expensive to get to.害羞草研究所�
O害羞草研究所橪eary also blamed the lack of economic growth on the prime minister , who he feels isn害羞草研究所檛 qualified to be involved in serious economic decisions such as the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
害羞草研究所淭he best thing to solve the problems right here is to get rid of Justin Trudeau, believe it or not, because it is his overriding policy that crushes innovation, jobs, capital traction, competitiveness. He害羞草研究所檚 a disaster,害羞草研究所� he said.
nicholas.pescod@nanaimobulletin.com
