During a recent stop in Moncton, New Brunswick, the federal Conservative leader says Policy 713 is a provincial issue.

Pierre Poilievre says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to keep his opinions to himself, “The Prime Minister has no business in decisions that should rest with provinces and parents. So my message to Justin Trudeau is butt out and let provinces run schools and let parents raise kids.”

Controversial changes to Policy 713 that were recently made by the provincial government, will take effect on July 1. Under the changes, teachers won’t be required to use preferred pronouns or names of transgender or non-binary students under 16, unless there is parental consent.

The federal Conservative leader also stated that he is concerned about reports of a possible Irving oil refinery sale

But he is blaming the Prime Minister that this might have to happen, “This is the result of Justin Trudeau’s taxes on energy that is making Canada’s industry uncompetitive and driving production out of Canada to more polluting foreign jurisdictions. I worry that if the refinery is sold, that all of the corporate and business jobs that manage that asset will move down to the United States and all of those paychecks and the spin-offs from them will leave with those jobs.”

He adds that this would be a major blow to the Saint John economy, and it would also mean we wouldn’t have local control over our energy future.

Poilievre brought his ‘Axe the Tax’ Tour to Atlantic Canada this week. This comes as the federal government prepares to roll out its carbon pricing on July 1. This could add over 12 cents a litre to the price of gasoline and over 14 cents to diesel in New Brunswick.