Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement calling on Justin Trudeau to intervene and cancel the Rolling Truck Age Program:
“After eight years of Justin Trudeau, Canadians are struggling to deal with the cost-of-living crisis that his inflationary policies have caused. The cost of essential goods has skyrocketed. Justin Trudeau’s out-of-touch government is supporting another back-breaking policy at the Port of Vancouver that will further drive up the cost of goods.
“The Rolling Truck Age Program, supported by Justin Trudeau, will make life even more expensive for Canadians. Although trucks that are 12 years old are fully legal to operate on British Columbia’s roads outside the Port. But for some inexplicable reason, hardworking truckers are being told they must purchase new trucks that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars – simply to drive into the Port to do their critical jobs.
“Fewer trucks moving goods to and from the Port will further increase the cost of essential goods for already struggling Canadians. Justin Trudeau’s ever-increasing carbon tax is driving up diesel fuel costs, and now the costs of these new trucks will be added to the bill Canadians pay at the grocery store from coast to coast.
“Canada’s ports, just like airports, are a direct federal responsibility. But Justin Trudeau and his incompetent Minister of Transport are once again trying to dodge any responsibility. Just as the mess we have seen at our airports is a result of failed Liberal policies, our ports are a disaster as well. After eight years of Liberal failures, the Port of Vancouver ranks 368th out of 370 ports around the world.
“Justin Trudeau must direct his Minister of Transport to intervene and immediately cancel – not delay – this foolish and reckless policy. Canadians cannot afford anything less.”