Article by Raul Lima
TORONTO – Pierre Polievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), made a campaign-like stop at Northwest Precision in North York on Tuesday. He was flanked by caucus colleague Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman.
The manufacturing enterprise is one of several units (10) owned and operated by The New Era Group. The original company, founded by Mario Tersigni, 60 years ago as New Era Tool and Die, is now run by second and third generation members of the family. It employs over 300 skilled trades people.
It is the type of place and people the CPC needs to connect with and win over, if they hope to make electoral headway in the GTA, come the next election. Mr. Polievre seems to appreciate that his party needs to get its message out to people like the New Era Group and their workers who are generally reliant on economic opportunity rather than government largess for their future.
When asked why he chose this location above others, Polievre did not miss the opportunity to engage in the partisan message he is carrying elsewhere. It focuses on the dysfunctionality and detachment of the current government from “the regular guy”.
But he did seem genuinely taken by the dynamics he experienced: “I was just so impressed with the incredible people here. They work so hard, and they built incredible machinery, the brain power that goes into these jobs is very impressive. The ability to operate these enormous machines with laser like precision to produce these incredible world leading products that go into larger machines that build other things. These people are the backbone of our country”, he gushed.
That went over well. The workers and owners seemed equally appreciative of his address and the fact that he engaged in a question and answer… and selfies afterwards. He struck the right notes: “I want to make Canada work for the people who do the work”, he said. “I will axe the carbon tax… lower income tax to reward work, and … remove government red tapes so we can have more factories, more mines, more pipelines and more affordable homes built.”
It appeared to this reporter that he was sharpening his message for down the road.
