ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, N.S. — Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer made a campaign stop in the Annapolis Valley on Friday.
Scheer was flanked by West Nova Conservative candidate Chris d’Entremont, former MLA for Argyle-Barrington, during his stop at Annapolis Royal’s Market Square.
Two Extinction Rebellion environmental activists clutching signs that read “There is no Planet B” and “Climate Crisis! Act now!” stood out amid a wave of blue signs awaiting Scheer’s arrival.
Rally goer Wayne Atwater, a former councillor for the County of Kings, earned a round of applause by standing in front of the climate change activists and proudly hoisting a “Nova Scotia for Scheer” sign above his head.
The women stood firm as more rally attendees toting Scheer signs gathered around them at the public venue.
Betty Wright, one half of the duo, said they were there to hear what Scheer had to say about the environment.
“I recognize the sense of urgency around the whole thing of climate change and that we can’t keep talking about it and ignoring it,” said Wright in a short interview.
“We have to do something, so this is the premise of our movement.”
Scheer started his brief West Nova speech off by commenting on the natural beauty surrounding Market Square and the nearby Annapolis Royal waterfront.
He assured the enthusiastic crowd predominantly populated with party faithful that the Conservative party plans to tackle environmental issues.
“We have a real environmental plan that will actually lower greenhouse gas emissions, take the climate change fight global and, once and for all, stop the practice of cities and towns dumping raw sewage into our rivers, lakes and oceans,” he said.
Animated applause could be heard as Scheer listed off actions a Conservative government would take if the party is in power following the Oct. 21 election:
- The carbon tax would be repealed
- No more GST/HST on home hydro and power bills
- The first income tax bracket would be lowered from 15 per cent to 13.75
- Federal grants government puts into RESPs for post-secondary education would increase
- Provincial health-care systems would receive more money for purchasing or replacing diagnostic MRI and CT scan equipment
The party would lead the nation with a “back to budget” approach to government spending, Scheer said.
“We are about to start a wave of change that’s going to carry us all the way through Atlantic Canada,” he said, later acknowledging that 2015 was “tough” for the Conservative party.
The party’s platform is built around the goal of “putting more money in the pocket of Canadians,” Scheer said.
“While the Liberals are mired in scandal and corruption, we are putting forward a platform that is speaking directly to people’s needs.”
Scheer did not take questions from media or the public at the rally.
When asked if he’d answer a question from local media while assembling campaign signs with d’Entremont, Scheer indicated that he “could for sure,” but he left the rally minutes later without granting an interview.
Scheer’s itinerary for the Annapolis Valley visit also included a stop at a business in Port Williams and the Annapolis Brewing Company.
