More than 30 prominent Canadian business executives formally endorsed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Saturday, arguing his economic policies would best address Canada’s slowing growth ahead of the April 28 federal election.
The open letter, published in several Canadian newspapers, was signed by Fairfax Financial CEO Prem Watsa, Canaccord Genuity CEO Dan Daviau, former Scotiabank president Brian Porter and former RBC Capital Markets CEO Anthony Fell, among others.
“Productivity has stalled. Economic growth has slowed. Our GDP per capita is shrinking,” the executives wrote. “Nevertheless, this decline is not inevitable — and it’s not the Canada we know and love.”
The letter outlines priorities including streamlining permit processes, cutting regulations that hinder investment, reducing government spending, lowering taxes and developing natural resources through pipeline construction and mining expansion.
Poilievre unveiled plans early last week to cut bureaucratic regulations by 25% in two years through a “two-for-one” law that would require two regulations be repealed for every new one enacted.
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His main opponent, Liberal Mark Carney, former governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, has campaigned on his economic expertise, arguing he is best positioned to address tariff threats from US President Donald Trump.
Carney’s economic platform includes removing exemptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, developing infrastructure for natural resource sites and creating worker training programs.
The endorsement comes three weeks into an election campaign where Poilievre has criticized “global elites” who use offshore tax havens, while political analysts note Carney previously managed investment funds registered in such jurisdictions.
The Conservative campaign called the endorsement a validation of Poilievre’s “Canada First Economic Action Plan” to “lower taxes and eliminate red tape to unleash our industries and bring home powerful paycheques for our people and a thriving economy,” according to a statement from Conservative spokesman Sam Lilly.
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