THUNDER BAY - POLITICS - Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre made his presence felt in Thunder Bay on Friday evening, marking the beginning of a brisk tour across Northern Ontario.<br /><br />The highlight of his visit was a public address outside MP Patty Hajdu's office on Red River Road, where Poilievre emphasized his party's commitment to abolishing the Liberal Government's carbon tax on home heating fuels, a move he describes as 'Axe the Tax'.<br /><br />During his Thunder Bay visit, Poilievre also engaged with the media, providing insights into the Conservative Party's stance on the recent META/Facebook news blackout affecting Canadian news. This interaction marks a significant moment in his tour, showcasing his views on media freedom and the importance of accessible news in the digital age.<br /><br />The tour's next stop is Timmins, where Poilievre is scheduled to speak at the Schumacher Lion's Club Basement Hall, located at 85 McIntyre Rd., at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.<br /><br />His journey continues to North Bay for a 2:30 p.m. event at Cecil's The Grande Event Centre at 192 Main St. East, followed by an evening engagement in Sudbury at the Holiday Inn, 1696 Regent St., at 6:30 p.m.<br /><br />In what is being termed as a ‘Sudbury Saturday night,’ the Conservative leader is expected to spend the evening at Overtime Sports Bar, in Sudbury mingling with locals and supporters.<br /><br />The concluding leg of Poilievre's tour will be in Sault Ste. Marie, with a Sunday morning event scheduled at 10:30 a.m. at The Water Tower Inn at 360 Great Northern Rd.<br /><br />Amidst these engagements, the latest ballot tracking numbers as of January 5th indicate that the Conservatives are holding a growing lead over the Liberals, with a 38.3 percent ballot support.
