Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, along with other party leaders, resumed their campaign trail after the national leaders’ debates in Montreal. The campaigning coincided with the opening of advance polling across the country. Poilievre promised to strike down a key element of the Liberal government’s environmental policy, specifically the ban on the manufacture and sale of single-use plastic items. He criticized the ban, labeling it as a “plastic tax” on food packaging that would result in more waste and higher costs for Canadians. Poilievre also expressed concerns about the impact of the ban on fresh produce and the economy, stating that the ban would cost the economy $1.3 billion over the next decade and the average family $400 annually.
The plastic ban was implemented by the previous Liberal government after designating plastic manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. However, a Federal Court quashed that designation in November 2023, saying it was too broad. The federal government appealed the decision, and the ban remains in place pending the conclusion of that appeal. The Liberals also began implementing a plan to require up to 60 percent of food packaging to be made from recycled plastic by 2030 in an effort to increase plastic recycling in Canada. Poilievre argued that the ban would have a negative impact on the economy and the average Canadian family’s budget, claiming that it would cost $1.3 billion over the next decade.
While Poilievre proposed to reverse the federal rules if elected, some jurisdictions like British Columbia and Montreal have their own bans and regulations in place for single-use plastics. The issue of plastic straws has sparked political debate in recent years as countries seek to reduce plastic waste. While the United States was moving towards phasing out plastic straws, President Donald Trump overturned that plan with an executive order. Carney accused Poilievre of importing American plastic policy into Canada, emphasizing the need for Canada to make its own decisions. Singh, on the other hand, focused on NDP policies in Quebec, highlighting plans for an east-west clean electricity power grid and emphasizing the party’s commitment to protecting farmers and the environment. Singh also stressed the importance of defending food security and supply management in the dairy industry.
The Bloc Québécois released its costed platform, outlining new federal spending totaling $133 billion over five years. The platform includes measures such as a wage subsidy related to the trade war with the United States and funding for public transit and increased health transfers to the provinces. The Bloc only runs candidates in Quebec and cannot form the government, but the promises in their platform are intended to influence and pressure the party in power. Carney and Singh both indicated that their party’s full, costed platforms would be released soon. Carney used the border city of Niagara Falls as a backdrop to discuss the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada’s relationship with its neighbor, framing the election around the need for government leadership in times of crisis.
