Affordability remains centre stage as federal parties gear up for spring sitting of Parliament

Federal political parties are preparing for another sitting of the House of Commons, where affordability issues appear set to remain front and centre.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, speaking in front of his caucus on Sunday, continued to articulate a message that is critical of the state of Canada's economy, with a focus on housing affordability, while blaming the challenges of the rising cost of living on government policies pursued by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

«This is not a problem that has been dropped on Justin Trudeau's lap. It is a problem that he created with his inflationary spending and by continually building up the local bureaucracies that block home building,» Poilievre said.

He repeated several times a refrain that summarizes the Conservatives' priorities for their next period in opposition: «Axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.»

In French, Poilievre focused his critique on the Bloc Québécois for supporting the federal government on a variety of issues, while in English he similarly sought to tie the NDP and Liberals together as a «costly coalition.»

Poilievre referred to Bill C-234, proposed legislation meant to exempt farmers from paying the carbon tax on fuel used in some farming activities. The bill has experienced extensive change and procedural wrangling as it made its way through the House and Senate late last year.

As MPs prepare to return to the regular rhythm of the House of Commons this week, the Conservatives continue to hold what polls suggest is a commanding lead — at least 10 percentage points, in many surveys — in public support.

«You've got a a population that's feeling pretty sour about the direction of the country,» David Coletto, CEO of the polling firm