Conservatives Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canada’s youth have “sacrificed enough,” telling them that he thinks ahead of next week’s budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney is trying to “lull” them “into accepting a worse quality of life.”

In a campaign-style speech to youth in downtown Toronto on Thursday night, Poilievre painted a grim picture of their present, placed the blame at the feet of the federal government and told them they deserved better.

“I look at the young people I see today, and so often I see a sense of hopelessness and despair,” he said. “I want you to know that I see you. Conservatives see you.”

“We see the sadness in your voice, the hopelessness on your face, those big, dark bags under your eyes as you’ve gone out to deliver one more Uber Eats delivery so that you can pay your rent,” Poilievre continued. “We know that many of you have fallen into a life of addiction because of that hopelessness.”

The speech was framed by the party as a counter to Carney’s primetime pre-budget address to university students last week, in which he spoke about the need for “sacrifices.”

“Our message tonight is exactly the opposite of what youth heard in that somber, dystopic speech from Mark Carney. Our message is you don’t have to live like this,” Poilievre said.

“Mr. Carney, the young people in this room and across this country have already sacrificed enough,” he said, to cheers and applause.

Standing behind him as he spoke about how Canada’s younger generations are “working harder and longer for less” were young people holding navy-blue Conservative-branded signs that read: “Don’t sacrifice my future,” “youth for Pierre,” and “Jobs. Homes. Hope.”

The address was a blend of presenting policies the Conservatives would push if they had power – echoing messaging from the last election – as well as leaning on statistics about the cost of living and crime that Poilievre has been repeating in the House of Commons since re-claiming a seat.

Throughout the around 40 minutes he spent on stage, the Conservative leader brought various youth who shared short stories about their challenges in planning their futures. From feeling as if home ownership is out of reach, to sending out numerous job applications, only to get a handful of responses back.

“We are not going to let the Liberals sacrifice your future. You will have a great job, and you will bring home great pay, and have a beautiful future,” Poilievre said to one.

As the address continued, Poilievre suggested the Liberals “are going to try and get Canadians to accept this permanent reduction in our quality of life.”

“They say that young people are only interested in vibes. Like the vibe you get when you see that your rent is now $2,000 a month,” he said. “Those are the types of vibes that we’ve gotten used to… But Mark Carney promised there would be different vibes.”

Conservative MPs sat alongside young people in the crowd, and 46-year-old Poilievre joked off the top that he was the oldest guy in the room, the first of a few quips he made.

Warming up the audience before Poilievre came on stage, Deputy Conservative Leader Melissa Lantsman implored the young people in the room to reach out to their local campus clubs, volunteer for their electoral district association and share Poilievre’s content online.

“Take pictures tonight, put it online. Tell your friends you are here. Make sure that you share this far and wide,” she said.