Canada’s Conservative Party of Canada has unveiled a $1 million advertising campaign aimed at drawing attention to the rising cost of living, while promoting leader Pierre Poilievre’s vision for addressing affordability challenges across the country.
The campaign, which began on April 8 and will run through the end of June, includes television, radio, connected TV, and digital advertisements in both English and French. According to party officials, the initiative focuses heavily on the increasing cost of groceries and broader economic pressures faced by Canadian families.
One of the ads highlights how food prices have climbed since the Liberals came to power in 2015. It argues that grocery costs have risen sharply in recent years, claiming Canada’s food inflation now exceeds that of other G7 nations. The ad also references remarks made by Prime Minister Mark Carney during his swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in March 2025, where he stated that Canadians would ultimately judge the government based on their everyday experiences particularly at the grocery store.
The advertisement combines clips of news headlines about rising food prices with a scene of a mother and child in a grocery store. In the clip, the mother decides against buying cookies due to high costs, expressing concern that prices may continue to rise. The ad concludes by asking viewers whether they feel better off after more than a decade of Liberal governance.
Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that food prices increased by 4.1 percent over the 12 months leading up to February. Beef prices, in particular, saw a significant jump of 13.9 percent that month. Overall, grocery costs have surged by more than 30 percent since early 2021.
Alongside the ad campaign, Poilievre has proposed scrapping federal taxes on gasoline and diesel for the remainder of 2026. He argues the move could save an average family of four approximately $1,200 annually, especially as global tensions such as the ongoing conflict involving Iran push fuel prices higher.
Responding to concerns about rising costs, Carney acknowledged that the government is closely monitoring fuel prices and their impact on Canadians. He pointed to measures already introduced, including tax cuts affecting millions of citizens and new social programs designed to ease financial burdens. However, he indicated that further action may depend on how international developments unfold.
The Conservative campaign signals a renewed push to make affordability a central issue in Canada’s political discourse, setting the stage for intensified debate over economic policy in the months ahead.
