Facing the Lost Decade: Poilievre Prescribes “Common Sense” Solutions at Richmond Chinese-speaking Community Meeting
[Richmond, British Columbia – April 9, 2026] Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attended a Chinese-speaking community meeting in Richmond today, where he delivered a speech addressing the economic challenges Canada has faced over the past decade. He proposed a series of policy measures centered on “increasing production and lowering living costs.” The audience responded enthusiastically, with frequent applause interrupting his remarks.
Poilievre pointed out that ten years of Liberal government have resulted in sluggish economic growth, high inflation, and continuously rising living costs. Using the analogy of “two economists trading mud for money,” he criticized the government’s excessive money printing and borrowing, which may temporarily inflate GDP but create no real value, ultimately making life harder for ordinary families and small businesses. He stressed that the solution lies in “real growth” — the pace of production (in food, housing, energy, and resources) must outpace the growth of the money supply.
His specific policy proposals include:
Tax cuts: Lower personal income taxes, reduce taxes on small businesses, exempt capital gains on reinvestment in Canada, and eliminate the industrial carbon tax and federal gasoline tax.
Cutting waste: Significantly reduce $26 billion in consulting contracts, corporate welfare, and certain foreign aid expenditures, bringing government spending down to 25% of the economy.
Streamlining approvals: Accelerate the approval process for housing, energy, and resource projects, and repeal the job-killing Impact Assessment Act (Bill C-69).
Resource development: Fully utilize Canada’s abundant reserves of oil, natural gas, uranium, potash, farmland, and hydroelectric power. Aggressively develop LNG exports and build strategic petroleum and critical mineral reserves.
On international trade, Poilievre advocated a pragmatic yet principled approach. He stated that Canada should leverage its advantages in energy and critical minerals to negotiate better trade deals with the United States and strengthen North American supply chains. At the same time, while trade and dialogue with China are possible, Canada must ensure national sovereignty and economic security and avoid over-reliance on the Chinese economy, which could endanger national security.
Poilievre also specifically addressed the current private property rights issues in Richmond. He voiced support for the local Conservative MP in defending the property rights of Chinese Canadian homeowners and opposed the potential impact of the Cowichan Nation court ruling on private fee-simple ownership. He emphasized that strong private property rights are the foundation of Canada’s prosperity and must be firmly protected.
The speech was clear, well-structured, and down-to-earth, focusing on the issues ordinary Canadians care most about — living costs, housing, and economic growth. It received positive responses from Chinese Canadian voters in attendance. Many participants said these “common sense” policies directly address real pain points and demonstrate strong practicality and feasibility. Notably, the event occurred shortly after the Conservative Party experienced its fourth MP crossing the floor. Against this backdrop, the gathering was seen as a strong signal of the Chinese Canadian community’s enduring loyalty to Conservative values and its continued steadfast support.
