Poilievre: 'We need a reopening plan. Now.'

In a recent speech, Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre decried Canada's response to the pandemic thus far, and suggested that the country must re-open if it is to have a chance at recovering.

"This is not just a massive, $100 billion economic crisis ... not just about a $400 billion deficit", he said.  "This is about peoples' human and very real suffering."

Poilievre began his speech by listing a number of places, as far away as Australia, and as close as Seattle, that have made plans to re-open, citing upcoming baseball games and concerts that will have fans in attendance.

"Who cares about baseball, or artistic conferences, or travel between countries", he said,  "None of those things are core to human existence, so we ought not worry about the fact that they are still largely eliminated and restricted.  But the reality is, they are but symbols of the massive human sacrifice that our people are forced to make."

Poilievre questioned why Canada has not followed in these countries' footsteps, and instead opted to implement more lockdowns and other measures. He pointed out that Canada has the "highest deficit as a share of GDP in the G20, worst vaccination rates in the G7, highest unemployment rates in the G7".

Poilievre's harsh words come at a time where cases of COVID are on the rise in parts of the country, leading many to question whether a plan to re-open should include re-opening right now.