Poilievre gains endorsement from business leaders, ex-bank heads – National [Video]

A number of prominent business leaders formally threw their support behind Pierre Poilievre in the upcoming federal election on Saturday, arguing his Conservative Party will best handle Canada’s slowing economic growth.

The group of more than 30 current and past executives includes Fairfax Financial CEO Prem Watsa, Canaccord Genuity CEO Dan Daviau, former RBC Capital Markets CEO Anthony Fell and former Scotiabank CEO Brian Porter.

They published an open letter in several Canadian newspapers on Saturday saying Poilievre’s plans are best to get the country’s economy “back on track.”

“Productivity has stalled. Economic growth has slowed. Our GDP per capita is shrinking,” the letter reads.

“Nevertheless, this decline is not inevitable — and it’s not the Canada we know and love.”

To turn things around, the letter said Canada needs to eliminate barriers to productivity by streamlining permit processes and cutting outdated regulations that prevent investment and job creation.

It also said …