Poilievre says Conservatives will back Liberal tax cuts, but wants them to go further

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Wednesday that his party will support proposed Liberal tax cuts but urged the governing party to make those cuts steeper.

"We are the party of taxpayers. We will vote for every tax cut always and everywhere. We love taxpayers and we want taxpayers to be better off," Poilievre told reporters outside the House of Commons.

"The question we always ask is, 'Is the proposal better than the status quo?' If it is then we support it. If it's not then we oppose it." 

Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to bring in an income-tax cut by Canada Day. The Conservatives proposed a similar, but steeper, tax cut during the election campaign.

It's rare, but not unheard of for the Official Opposition to back government legislation. Poilievre's Conservatives have done so in the past.

Poilievre said the Liberals should go further with their income tax cut and other policies, but suggested he would support any tax cut that's on the table.

"We will offer even better ideas in the future and as I said a few weeks ago, I'm encouraging the Liberals to steal my ideas because we have the best ideas," the Conservative leader said Wednesday.

Included in Tuesday's throne speech was a Liberal pledge to remove the GST on homes under $1 million. Poilievre suggested the Liberals should go further on this policy as well.

Poilievre called on the Liberals to present a budget this spring rather than waiting until the fall as is currently planned.

The Conservative leader's comments came just ahead of the first question period of this parliamentary session. Poilievre, who lost his seat during the last election, had to watch the proceedings from outside the chamber.

"I'd love to be in there, it's a great place. I love the House of Commons. I love the excitement and the thrill. I've never really been a spectator of the House, but I'm going to work hard to earn the opportunity to do it again," he said when asked about missing the first question period.

Poilievre is aiming to run in a byelection in the Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot once it's called. That vote is expected to take place sometime this summer.

Tuesday also marked the first question period that the NDP was facing with its reduced caucus.

The New Democrats only have seven seats, short of the required 12 required to be recognized as an official party under House of Commons rules.