Poilievre visits convoy camp, claims Trudeau is lying about 'everything'
CBC
The Conservative leader is facing questions after stopping to cheer on an anti-carbon tax convoy camp near the border between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where he bluntly accused the prime minister of lying about "everything."
In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Pierre Poilievre of welcoming "the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists."
In videos posted to social media, Poilievre is seen thanking and encouraging protesters who have camped out in a self-described convoy-style "hold the line protest" since the carbon tax increase on April 1.
"Everyone hates the tax because everyone's been screwed over," Poilievre is heard saying in the video, which shows protesters with "Axe the tax" and "F--k Trudeau " signs and flags.
"People believed his lies. Everything he said was bullshit, from top to bottom."
Poilievre, who has been beating Trudeau's Liberals in the polls since last summer, then claimed the prime minister's policies haven't helped the middle class, as promised.
In another video from his visit, Poilievre is seen leaving a RV with a drawing of the black and white Diagolon flag on the door.
According to RCMP documents tabled at the Emergencies Act inquiry last year, the national police force believes Diagolon is a militia-like network whose supporters subscribe to an "accelerationist" ideology — the idea that a civil war or the collapse of western governments is inevitable and ought to be sped up.
The group's founder disputes that characterization and argues it's a fictitious meme.
Poilievre's visit with the protesters has caused a stir among his political opponents.
"Every politician has to make choices about what kind of leader they want to be," Trudeau said when asked about Poilievre's comments during a media availability Wednesday.
"Are they the kind of leader that is going to exacerbate divisions, fears and polarization in our country, make personal attacks and welcome the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists? Because that's exactly what Pierre Poilievre continues to do, not just when you see him engaging with members of Diagolon but also when he refuses to condemn and reject the endorsement of Alex Jones."
Jones, a notorious broadcaster who has been ordered to pay more than a billion dollars in damages to the families of the Sandy Hook victims after claiming the school shooting was a hoax, reiterated his support of Poilievre. In 2012, an armed man killed 26 people at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, most of them children between the ages of six and seven.
"This is the kind of man who's saying Pierre Poilievre has the right ideas to bring the country towards the right," said Trudeau during a stop in the Toronto area, where he was touting his recent budget. Recent polling suggests last week's budget release hasn't done much to sway voters.
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