One of the people vying to replace Conservative leader Andrew Scheer visited Quinte West today (Monday).
Peter MacKay took part in a fireside chat and a meet-and-greet at the Trenton Legion that was intimately attended.
The event was open to the public and moderated by Tim Durkin, candidate of record for the Conservative Party for the Bay of Quinte.
MacKay covered numerous topics including the economy, flooding and high water in the Bay of Quinte region, the recent rail blockades and the now cancelled JTF 2 project.
MacKay told those in attendance he thinks we are already in another election cycle and it could happen as quickly as this fall.
He says when he sees what is happening he feels he still has something to offer as a politician and when it comes to the Conservative Party, they are a party that is tolerant and inclusive and because of that they are a consensus party, and they are better for it.
On the economy, Mackay says we are in a very volatile time and the current government seems to be asleep at the wheel.
Peter MacKay, who is vying for the leadership of the federal Conservative Party and was in Trenton on Monday. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
He told the room that the government should prepare for stormy weather and referenced what foresight does when it comes to economic downturn. He spoke specifically about when Jim Flaherty was the Minister of Finance because it was Flaherty and the Conservative government who put money in reserves, showing what saving can do for a G7 country, or any county, when it comes to economic shock.
He says the oil and gas sectors in Canada are on its back and there is no easy solution.
MacKay was asked about the recently announced cancellation of the JTF 2 project, something he approved based on “a lot of Department of National Defence advice from experts”.
MacKay says he found out things had shifted significantly and a briefing note stated the decision had been reversed.
When asked if elected, if he would work to bring JTF 2 back to Trenton, MacKay said he would need to see what had changed since he made the decision to send them to 8 Wing and he would seek military advice when it came to addressing that issue.
MacKay addressed the flooding issue, Plan 2014 and what residents could expect if he was elected leader of the Conservative Party.
He said the Conservatives had made certain commitments, the clean up of Lake Simcoe for example, and they were well on their way to being completed before the current government turned away sharply.
MacKay says they would revisit a number of items if elected.
The topic of the rail blockades was also discussed as it played out locally just a few short weeks ago.
MacKay said the Prime Minister sent a clear signal they needed to come down about two and a half weeks too late and the blockades ground entire infrastructures to a halt because of it.
He said there are choices that have to be made and the performance of this government is on display.
MacKay told the crowd Western Canada feels like Ottawa isn’t listening, Québec mistrusts the government and there is a sense of alienation in Atlantic Canada.
He says the Conservative Party has done it before when they were a fractured party in 1997 and came back to lead.
The conservative leadership hopeful says the unity of the party is critical to the unity of Canada.
Peter MacKay, who is vying for the leadership of the federal Conservative Party, with Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk, was in Trenton on Monday. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
When it came to green policies and being environmentally aware, he said conserve is in their name, they just have never been good at marketing their green policies.
He did say they faltered when it came to the last election when they tabled their green policy last minute. He said he believes climate change is real and they need to put a green plan forward but one that doesn’t involve a carbon tax, because” a tax is a tax is a tax”.
MacKay was known for his role in uniting the right years ago, helping to get the Conservatives elected under Stephen Harper, as MacKay was the Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party when it amalgamated with the Canadian Alliance to become the Conservative Party of Canada under Stephen Harper.
MacKay is a former Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs and is considered one of the front runners to become leader.
