Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau spoke of fairness and the importance of the middle class in his first election campaign speech on Sunday, while emphasizing the link between environmental and economic policies at a rally in Vancouver, B.C.
In his opening campaign speech, the Liberal Leader vowed to make the federal government more 鈥渇air鈥� by taxing the wealthy and focusing his attention on lifting up the middle class.
鈥淵ou grow the economy by strengthening the middle class and those hoping to join it,鈥� Trudeau said.
The Liberal Leader took aim at Stephen Harper鈥檚 10 years in power, and accused the Conservatives of being 鈥渢ired, out of ideas and disconnected from reality.鈥�
He also indirectly criticized Harper鈥檚 recently-introduced Child Care Benefit payments, which pay out lump sums of money to all Canadians who have registered their children for the program. 鈥淲e will stop sending cheques to millionaires just because they have children,鈥� Trudeau vowed.
Trudeau also directly attacked NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, calling his economic plan a 鈥渕irage.鈥� He slammed Mulcair鈥檚 plan to increase the minimum wage 鈥� a promise he said offers 鈥渇alse hope鈥� to those in the service industry who work for less than the established minimum.
鈥淣ine out of 10 Canadians will be better off in hard dollars and cents under my plan,鈥� Trudeau said.
The Liberal Leader only made brief mention of Harper鈥檚 costly decision to call the election early, opting instead to focus his remarks on the economy and the environment.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 make a choice between environment and economy. You have to do them both together,鈥� he said.
Trudeau was the last federal party leader to deliver his opening campaign remarks, which came hours after the official election call. NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe all spoke shortly after Harper announced the election, leaving many asking when Trudeau would add his voice to the conversation.
The Liberal Leader fielded several questions after his speech, including one asking why he didn鈥檛 arrange to speak earlier.
Trudeau said he was in the air at the time, on a plane bound for B.C. so he could fulfill his 鈥減romise鈥� to march in Vancouver鈥檚 Pride Parade.
鈥淣o one鈥檚 going to make me break my word, particularly not Stephen Harper,鈥� he said.
Trudeau also addressed the frequent Conservative accusations that he lacks the experience to lead the country.
鈥淢y opponents can say whatever they want about me,鈥� he told the crowd. 鈥淚 will stay focused on you.鈥�
Trudeau鈥檚 defence comes one day after he released his first election campaign ad online, in which he addresses the frequent Tory accusations that he鈥檚 鈥渏ust not ready.鈥� In the ad, Trudeau asserts that he is quite ready. 鈥淚鈥檓 ready to bring real change to Ottawa,鈥� he says in the ad.
