Thousands flocked to Poilievre’s “Canada First” rally in Penticton, B.C.

Hundreds of supporters overflowed into a sunny Okanagan parking lot as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre brought his “Canada First” rally to Penticton, B.C.

Source: Facebook

Hundreds of supporters overflowed into a sunny Okanagan parking lot as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre brought his “Canada First” rally to Penticton, B.C.

Speaking to a crowd of thousands at a large commercial warehouse facility on Saturday, Poilievre criticized Canada’s tax regime, unsustainable immigration policies, an overtly stringent energy regime, a ‘revolving door’ ‘catch-and-release’ justice system, and the current regulatory environment.

“Bureaucracy and red tape have grown. The burden is staggering,” said Poilievre.

Estimates of the size of the crowd ranged from up to 4,000–a sizeable percentage of the Okanagan Valley city’s population.

Before the rally, Poilievre held a press conference at South Okanagan Concrete Products in Osoyoos, accompanied by Conservative candidates Helena Konanz for Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay and Dan Albas for Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna.

Konanz emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses, calling them “the backbone of our small communities throughout the riding.”

The rally in Penticton, meanwhile, focused heavily on the issue of crime—a topic that Mark Carney has avoided altogether during his election campaign.

Crime is a major issue in the Okanagan. Nearby Kelowna, also known for its picturesque landscapes and tourism appeal, ranked second in property crimes on a per-capita of municipalities with a population over 100,000 across both Canada and the U.S. according to one Fraser Institute study.

Addressing economic concerns, Poilievre asserted that his plan to cut income taxes by 15 per cent would provide “economic rocket fuel, especially in the Okanagan where you have so many realtors, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.”

He proposed a “two-for-one” law mandating that two regulations be repealed for every new one imposed, with oversight by the auditor general to ensure compliance.

Particularly popular with the crowd was his pledge to reduce immigration and to ensure the rate of newcomers to Canada does not exceed housing stock and job availability.

He also vowed to “stand up” to U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration’s tariffs on Canada.

The rally in Penticton is part of Poilievre’s campaign ahead of the federal election scheduled for April 28. Liberal Leader Mark Carney campaigned in Ontario on Saturday, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was in Atlantic Canada.