Criticism for Poilievre over video suggesting Canadians are moving to Nicaragua

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is facing criticism from Liberal parliamentarians after a controversial video surfaced in which he suggests that some Canadians are “fleeing” to Nicaragua due to the high cost of living in Canada.

In the video, Poilievre features a woman who moved her family to Nicaragua in 2022 because they couldn’t afford a larger home in Canada. The woman claims to know of 8,000 other Canadians who have made a similar move in search of a lower cost of living and better quality of life.

Poilievre is seen in the video expressing disbelief at the situation, stating, “It used to be that people would flee from countries like Nicaragua to come to Canada, but now people are actually fleeing from Canada to go to Nicaragua because they can’t afford nine years of Trudeau.”

Federal Liberal cabinet ministers have criticized Poilievre for his comments, with Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez stating, “I think he doesn’t have a clue what Nicaragua is all about and he’s never been there. It shows.” Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne called Poilievre’s narrative “irresponsible” and emphasized the positive aspects of Canada as a country.

Jaime Battiste, the Liberal MP for Sydney-Victoria, N.S., responded to the story by inviting the family mentioned in the video back to the region, highlighting the growing economy and available housing in Cape Breton.

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Poilievre stated that the Conservatives recognize the struggles faced by people around the world who are forced to leave their countries due to political repression, crime, or violence.

The video and the ensuing debate highlight the ongoing issue of affordable housing in Canada and the choices some Canadians are making to seek better opportunities abroad. The differing perspectives from political leaders underscore the complexity of the issue and the need for constructive dialogue on how to address the challenges faced by Canadians in finding affordable housing.