Tories racking up trade union endorsements
OTTAWA — Fourteen Canadian labour unions and organizations — including several police associations — have either endorsed or given their approval of the Poilievre Conservatives.
Among the latest came from Local 67 of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA), whose business manager during a Conservative rally in Hamilton late last month blamed the Liberals for Canada's affordability and housing crisis.
'As union members, we care for those around us, and those who came before us,' said UA Local 67's Nathan Bergstrand, a union who endorsed Democratic party candidate Kamala Harris in last year's U.S. presidential election.
'We don't need handouts — we need work, safe streets, a strong dollar, affordable homes and the freedom to responsibly own and use our legal firearms.'
UA's endorsement came soon after a letter of solidarity from Arnie Stadnick, Canadian vice-president for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) — a union who had never before supported the Tories.
'Canada has the capacity, the will, and the ability to get Canadian products to market without importing oil from any other foreign nation,' Stadnick wrote in his endorsement.
'The resulting strength of the Canadian energy sector allows us to work toward energy independence, just like Pierre Poilievre and the rest of his Conservative team are doing.'
Among the Tory programs that are drawing unions like IBB into the Tory fold are Poilievre's 'boots not suits' plan, establishing apprentice training programs for the skilled trades — as well as the complete elimination of the contentious carbon tax.
'Pleased to see @pierrepoilievre's union-boosting policies that will strengthen IUPAT's training and apprenticeship system for our workers,' read a tweet by International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) district council 46's Bruno Mandic.
'DC46 has asked Pierre for a new, bolder, pro-union Conservative approach, and he has delivered.'
Police unions are also hopping on the Conservative bandwagon, with Sault Ste. Marie, Peel and Durham regions all offering endorsements.
'The increase in crime, it's just skyrocketed,' Peel Regional Police Association President Adrian Wooley said during a press conference late last month.
'We've arrested the same people time and time again, this revolving door needs to close.'
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
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