Polievre has an idea of ​​what the Conservatives might do with the capital gains tax changes.

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – Conservative Leader Pierre Poillevre is urging business leaders to fight their own battles over the Liberals' proposed capital gains tax changes.

But while he described their plan as an “attack,” his office would not comment on whether his party would vote in favor of it.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland last week introduced legislation to implement the latest federal budget, which did not include one of her marquee announcements.

Instead, the government is expected to introduce a separate bill to overhaul the tax system so that the wealthiest Canadians and businesses pay more taxes on their income.

This means that each party must express its clear position by voting yes or no.

Opinion polls show that younger Canadians are increasingly supporting the Conservatives – a trend Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has long relied on voters under 40, hopes to reverse.

Last month's budget focused heavily on addressing housing affordability. Freeland and Trudeau said the spending plan was about “generational fairness.”

Polievre said conservatives would vote against the budget.

But while portraying himself as a champion of the working class and someone who understands concerns about the cost of living, will he support measures that the government believes will affect only the wealthiest Canadians?

His office won't say.

“A handful of Conservatives will vote against Justin Trudeau's inflationary budget,” Sebastian Skamski said in a statement.

“The legislation you're asking for doesn't exist yet because of Justin Trudeau's incompetence, so it can't be resolved.”

Trudeau and his ministers have been touring the country touting how the measures would require those who profit from asset sales to pay more of their “fair share.”

The Liberals propose taxing two-thirds of capital gains instead of half.

The increase, known as the inclusion rate, applies to all net profits realized by corporations and profits above $250,000 for individuals. They do not apply to the sale of a primary residence.

The government estimates the change will generate more than $19 billion in tax revenue over the next five years, helping to fund new spending, including measures aimed at encouraging housing construction.

“It's clear that the Liberals are fast-tracking their 'deep politics,'” Skamski said in a statement.

He said “Trudeau's rich friends” won't pay a cent more, while “working and middle-class Canadians” will be saddled with Liberal spending.

Poillievre expressed his opinion in a recent opinion piece.

What he described as an “attack” on businesses and entrepreneurs at the feet of corporate leaders, he wrote that their way of pumping Trudeau's Liberals has not worked.

“They didn't want to do anything but complain and hope their useless and overpaid lobbyists would meet with Chrystia Freeland or Justin Trudeau and talk to them, while the opposition tried to get the government to change course,” Poilevre wrote in the National Post last Friday.

“If you want to stop Trudeau's latest tax increases, don't talk to the politicians, talk to the people.”

His comments, widely shared on social media by MPs and other Conservatives, echo the populist message Poilevre has sent to the business community since becoming leader: he prioritizes everyday people, not “corporate Canada.”

He also warned that this attitude will not change if he becomes the prime minister.

Polievre's comments relate to concerns expressed by professional associations and companies about the proposed capital gains changes.

It said they should raise such issues directly with their patients and staff.

“Of course, my future government will do the opposite of Trudeau on almost every issue,” he wrote.

In an interview last week, Poilevre was asked whether a future Poilevre government would repeal or maintain capital gains changes.

He did not elaborate, saying only that it was still a “hypothetical” issue.

He argued that removing changes to the capital gains tax regime from the budget implementation bill would constitute a “flip-flop” by the Liberals.

Although Polievre did not say what could be done next, he considered the measure ineffective.

“Obviously this will not affect the rich because the rich are only selling their assets now before the change takes effect. They're funneling their money into tax havens … they're not paying a dime,” he told CP24 in Toronto.