Boliver announces the new shadow government and places the ability to afford the cost of living at the top of his priorities

Ottawa —
Canadian Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, announced the formation of the party's new shadow cabinet, affirming that his parliamentary team will enter the next phase with a clear priority focused on addressing the crisis of affordability, alongside issues of security and national unity.

Poilievre said the new shadow cabinet will make reducing the cost of living a central focus of its oversight and legislative work, considering that Canadians are facing increasing pressures due to rising prices of food, fuel, housing, and borrowing costs.

He accused the Liberal government of causing a decline in household purchasing power, pointing out that inflation, rising public debt, and economic slowdown have made citizens work more for less, while – according to him – specific groups benefit from government policies.

The new lineup included a number of prominent faces within the party, with Melissa Lantsman and Tim Uppal retaining their positions as deputy leaders, while Andrew Scheer remained the Conservative leader in the House of Commons, and Michael Chong took on the finance portfolio in the shadow cabinet.

Poilievre also appointed Scott Aitchison as shadow minister for housing, Raquel Dancho for health, Frank Caputo for public safety, Michelle Rempel Garner for immigration, refugees, and citizenship, Eric Duncan for foreign affairs, James Bezan for national defense, alongside distributing dozens of parliamentary portfolios and files to party MPs.

Poilievre confirmed that his team will continue to pressure the government on housing, taxes, inflation, crime, trade, and healthcare issues, emphasizing that the Conservatives will present themselves as a ready alternative government, possessing a complete team and an economic plan focused on making Canada more affordable, safer, and united.

The announcement of the shadow cabinet comes as federal parties prepare to resume parliamentary work after the summer break, amid expectations that economic issues, housing, purchasing power, and trade relations with the United States will top the political confrontation agenda between the government and opposition during the upcoming parliamentary session.