It was a passionate, factual, riveting and heartfelt speech that cut like a knife through the incomprehensible incompetence and corruption that has come to define the Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh coalition government. Member of Parliament for Thornhill, Melissa Lantsman, spoke with authority and conviction about the alarming rise of hatred and antisemitism on Canada’s streets. She spoke truth to power about holding the Trudeau Liberals and their NDP cohorts directly accountable for the crime and chaos they have inflicted on Canadian society because of their mismanagement of the federal purse and policies. She condemned Trudeau for welcoming anti-Israel speakers under the guise of tolerance while professing to stand against hate. She exposed his silence on explicit antisemitic chants at protests, which directly contradicts his claims of defending inclusivity. She called out the Liberal government’s failure to protect Jewish communities despite repeated promises, highlighting Trudeau’s empty rhetoric on safety. She criticized his selective outrage, which avoids confronting radical elements that spew hatred in the streets. She slammed his foreign policy, which sends contradictory signals on Israel’s legitimacy and pointed to Liberal government funding for groups with histories of promoting antisemitism and hate. Her speech wasn’t just an indictment of Trudeau’s leadership—it was a call to action to end the moral malaise and corruption of the Trudeau-Singh coalition that has hollowed out Canada, leaving it almost unrecognizable for many.
Melissa Lantsman is a trailblazer in Canadian politics, widely recognized for her intellect, competence, and strong leadership. She has broken barriers as the first openly gay woman to serve as deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, a role she earned through her exceptional merit and ability. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre saw these traits in Lantsman—her sharp intelligence, steadfast work ethic, and capacity to connect with Canadians across diverse backgrounds—and selected her to help lead the party. Poilievre’s choice of Lantsman to be his deputy serves as a metaphor for the many decisions he has made that have allowed the Conservatives to capture and redefine the middle ground and become Canada’s mainstream party and the apparent choice of most voters in Canada heading into an election which is now only months away.
Poilievre and the Conservative Party present a stark contrast to Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party’s eight-year tenure, characterized by his “progressive agenda” and boasting of feminist credentials. These claims have been repeatedly contradicted by Trudeau’s misogynistic behaviour and treatment of women within his own caucus and cabinet, revealing breathtaking hypocrisy regarding gender and equality. Trudeau’s cavalier dismissal of key female ministers like Chrystia Freeland, Jody Wilson-Raybould, and Jane Philpott, along with his treatment of former Parliamentary Secretary Celina Caesar-Chavannes, a Black woman representing Whitby, Ontario, who called Trudeau “fake as fuck” and accused him of “tokenism,” revealed the real Trudeau in real-time. Wilson-Raybould, Canada’s first Indigenous minister of justice and attorney general, was ousted for resisting Trudeau and his cronies’ interference in the SNC-Lavalin affair, which she deemed both inappropriate and illegal. Philpott, a former health minister, was removed for supporting Wilson-Raybould’s principled stance on the matter. Both women were publicly shamed and left the Liberal caucus, showing Trudeau ‘the feminists’ intolerance for dissent, especially from women standing up for themselves.
Many Canadians saw Chrystia Freeland’s recent treatment by Trudeau as misogynistic, leading to her resignation. Freeland, his deputy prime minister and finance minister, faced public humiliation and dismissal over fiscal policy disagreements when she, like Raybould and other women before her, refused his demands. Freeland’s pre-emptive resignation before Trudeau could fire her highlighted the toxic dynamics within Trudeau’s administration and reinforced previous accusations about his misogynistic and narcissistic proclivities. Paradoxically, the women in Trudeau’s caucus remained silent when these events occurred, or worse, acted as enablers to justify his behaviour.
Trudeau’s Liberal government has faced criticism for neglecting Indigenous women and girls, especially after the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) released its report “Reclaiming Power and Place” on June 3, 2019. In June 2024, five years after its release, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak admonished the government, stating that only two of the 231 calls for justice have been fully implemented, with “minimal to no progress” on most others. She described the response as a “historic low point” in the federal government’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples.
Then there is the case of Trudeau himself being exposed in 2018 for groping a female reporter in 1998. After initially denying it, he came up with the whopper : “I apologized in the moment because I had obviously perceived that she had experienced it in a different way than I acted, or I experienced it.”
Nearly a decade after Justin Trudeau rose to power on promises of “sunny ways” and a progressive agenda, many Canadians are feeling things very differently. Disillusioned by years of Liberal governance that have seen them groped by taxation, debt, skyrocketing inflation, a housing crisis, corruption and financial and government mismanagement, they want change. According to all major polls, they are rallying behind a political leader they believe is ready to chart a new course for the country.
No Shrinking Violet
Pierre Poilievre is no shrinking violet. The fiery, intrepid and outspoken leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition is surging in the polls across the country as he cements his role as the voice of everyday Canadians tired of a Liberal tax-and-spend government whose obsession with identity politics has left Canada more divided than at any time in its history.
Poilievre is an intelligent, disciplined leader with a strong understanding of the issues. He is an expert in Parliamentary procedures and governance and has a reputation for being well-prepared, with excellent memory recall and impressive oratory skills that convey a self-deprecating sense of humour. In June 2024, he was named “best public speaker” in The Hill Times’ Politically Savvy Survey, a recognition bestowed upon one MP from partisans from all parties from across the political spectrum.
Not surprisingly, Prime Minister Trudeau, Liberal MPs, and their NDP allies led by Jagmeet Singh have a strong disdain for Pierre Poilievre and work overtime to try to portray him as a divisive figure, suggesting that his challenge to their “progressive agenda” is almost sacrilegious. Their efforts to label him Canada’s equivalent of Donald Trump have largely backfired. In contrast, Poilievre’s sharp critiques of the Liberal/NDP coalitions’ failing policies in healthcare, immigration, crime, housing, the military, and on debt, inflation and the economy have resonated more with Canadians who, according to all the polls, are fed up with the Trudeau-Singh alliance and are ready for change. All indications are that Canadians are ready for Prime Minister Pierre Poilievre.
The unique backstory of Pierre Poilievre
Born June 3, 1979, Pierre Poilievre was given up for adoption by his sixteen-year-old birth mother and adopted by two schoolteachers in Calgary. He has a younger brother, Patrick. His upbringing was modest, involving hockey, family camping trips, and delivering newspapers. His father, a French-Canadian, ensured Pierre and Patrick were fluent in both languages. Poilievre credits his parents for instilling values that taught him that “it didn’t matter where he came from, but where he was going; it didn’t matter what he knew, but what he could do.” Despite challenges like his parents’ separation and his father’s coming out as gay, these experiences shaped his worldview.
Poilievre attended Henry Wise Wood High School, where he was a good student and an active wrestler until he had a shoulder injury at 14. Around the same time, he attended an Alberta Conservative riding association meeting, sparking his passion for politics. As a teen, he immersed himself in political books, including Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom, which deeply influenced his thinking. By 16, he was selling Reform Party memberships and canvassing for Jason Kenney. At 17, he attended the 1996 Reform Party national convention as a delegate. After graduating high school in 1997, he enrolled at the University of Calgary to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and soon became president of the Young Tories on campus. Between his studies and his political work, Poilievre also gained experience working in corporate collections while in high school at TELUS and briefly as a journalist for the conservative magazine Alberta Report while at university.
In 1999, during his second year of university, Pierre Poilievre participated in Magna International’s national essay competition, As Prime Minister, I Would… The contest, spearheaded by Magna CEO Belinda Stronach and conceived by Toronto-Danforth MP Dennis Mills, invited Canadians aged 18-25 to share their vision for the country as prime minister. Mills was also the architect of the 1988 Best of the West program, which brought numerous young Western Canadians to Ottawa for experience on Parliament Hill. Coordinated by Diane Scarf, Mills’ chief of staff, the program was run out of his Parliament Hill office. It shaped the careers of future public figures like Dr. Cristine de Clercy, Kristina Walcott, John Bethel, Mike McDonald, Duncan Dee, Mark Cameron, Bruce Young, Raj Chahal, Mark Marissen, and Chris MacLeod.
Poilievre’s 2,500-word essay, Building Canada Through Freedom, championed individual liberty and proposed reforms such as term limits for members of Parliament. His submission won the $10,000 prize, a four-month internship at Magna, and publication in a collection of the contest’s top essays. During the awards ceremony, Poilievre met then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and reportedly quipped, “I hope none of my views are offensive to the prime minister because many of them conflict with the outdated system he has run for the past few years.” The comment offered an early glimpse of the assertive and combative political style that would later define Poilievre’s career.
In 2000, he spearheaded campus outreach for the Organization to Draft Stockwell Day, aiming to make the Alberta treasurer the leader of the Canadian Alliance party. His team, known as the “Fight Club,” canvassed support and raised funds for Day. Following Day’s victory, Poilievre moved from Calgary to Ottawa to work as his advisor.
When Jean Chrétien announced his retirement as prime minister in 2002, Poilievre and Ezra Levant co-wrote an op-ed advocating for the merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties. Poilievre served as Levant’s campaign spokesperson during Levant’s bid to replace former Reform leader Preston Manning in the Calgary Southwest by-election. Levant later withdrew, allowing Stephen Harper to run for the seat. In 2003, Poilievre co-founded 3D Contact Inc. with Jonathan Denis, focusing on political communications and polling. Shortly after, he announced his candidacy as a federal candidate in the Ottawa area for the newly formed Conservative Party, resulting from the merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives.
Early Wins —The Kid Comes to Parliament
In the 2004 federal election, 24-year-old Conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre stunned political pundits across Canada by defeating the popular incumbent, Liberal MP and Defence Minister David Pratt, in the riding of Nepean-Carleton. Five days later, on Saturday, July 3, 2004, Poilievre set the tone for what would be his approach to constituency politics for the next twenty years. He stood on the corner of Greenbank Road and Strandherd Drive—a major intersection in the riding—with his campaign volunteers and for several hours, waved his hand in appreciation next to a large sign thanking residents for voting for him. People responded with honks from their cars for the kid from Carleton. Poilievre has never taken his seat or constituents for granted and has a well-earned reputation in his riding for canvassing on a regular basis.
Poilievre’s 2004 victory contributed to the Conservative Party’s rise to the position of official opposition under a Liberal minority government and set off a political story for the ages. At 25, he entered the 38th Canadian Parliament as one of the youngest members of the Conservative caucus, earning the nickname “Skippy,” reportedly inspired by his youthful appearance and a character from the Australian children’s show Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. (It was the same year that a 25-year-old Andrew Scheer, would be elected the Conservative MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan).
Despite his young age, Poilievre quickly demonstrated a skillset in both constituency work and federal policy. He became a strong advocate for the expansion of Ottawa’s Queensway Carleton Hospital, which was facing funding cuts and rising rent as its lease with the National Capital Commission was set to expire in 2013. On June 20, 2005, he introduced Bill C-414, which aimed to prevent the federal government from charging rent to non-profit hospitals. Although the bill was defeated 165–111, Poilievre worked with Nepean—Carleton MPP John Baird to secure a significant break for the hospital by reducing its rent to just $1 per year.
In 2006, John Baird made a successful transition to federal politics. Poilievre was re-elected, securing over 50 percent of the vote in his Nepean—Carleton riding. He was only 26 when he was appointed parliamentary secretary to Baird, who was now president of the Treasury Board. In 2008, Poilievre again won re-election again with over 50 percent of the vote and was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the prime minister. He joined a Special Panel on Employment Insurance to address the impacts of the 2008 financial crisis and served on the Information, Privacy, and Ethics Committee, where he raised concerns about surveillance and called for Google CEO Eric Schmidt to testify. With Baird’s support, Poilievre sponsored Bill C-383, which proposed allowing citizens to recall members of Parliament through petitions. He also introduced Bill C-456, which aimed to make parental negligence a criminal offense if it led to their child committing a crime. One of Poilievre’s most notable achievements was his role in drafting and passing the Federal Accountability Act. This landmark legislation sought to improve transparency in campaign financing, lobbying, and whistleblower protection.
Live and Learn: Early Mistakes, Missteps, and Miscalculations
Poilievre’s journey from a young MP to Conservative Party leader was marked by achievements and controversies. He experienced shifts in position and made notable missteps, but a key trait that emerged was his ability to learn from mistakes and take corrective action. He trusted mentors like former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, John Baird, and Jenni Byrne, who played a crucial role in directing his 2022 campaign for Conservative Party leadership.
As a new MP in 2005, Poilievre’s criticisms of Michaëlle Jean’s appointment as governor general made national news. He questioned her alleged support for Quebec sovereignty and even filed a petition asking the Queen to dismiss her. His combative style had Liberal MPs referring to him as a Conservative “attack dog”. He justified his style by saying, “I think the ideas I work toward are worth fighting for, and to do that, you frequently have to point out the flaws of the alternatives.”
In 2008, Poilievre faced a backlash for controversial comments during a CFRA News Talk Radio interview about residential school compensation. On June 11, 2008, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered a formal apology to residential school survivors, Poilievre questioned the value of financial compensation, suggesting a focus on “values of hard work and independence.” His remarks drew swift condemnation. Harper reprimanded him, and Poilievre apologized in Parliament the next day, calling his comments “hurtful and wrong” and accepting full responsibility. He then issued a statement aligning with Harper’s acknowledgement of the deep harm caused by residential schools.
Poilievre turned the incident into a learning moment and, over the next decade, shifted his approach to Indigenous issues. He spoke in Parliament about missing and murdered Indigenous women, the need for access to clean drinking water in remote communities, and advocated for reconciliation through empowerment, economic development, and community-led solutions. His efforts earned praise from Indigenous leaders, including Chief Billy Morin of the Enoch Cree Nation and Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band, who commended Poilievre’s focus on economic infrastructure and education.
Poilievre —The Growing UP Years in the School of Hard Knocks (2008-2015)
Between 2008 and 2015, Poilievre solidified his role as an influential player in the Harper government. His advocacy for voter law changes, union transparency, and fiscal conservatism reflected his commitment to smaller government and individual freedoms—values that continue to define his political career today. In 2011, Poilievre won re-election in Nepean–Carleton with over 50 percent of the vote, and he was appointed parliamentary secretary to the minister of transport, infrastructure, and communities and for FedDev Ontario. In 2012, Poilievre called for ending mandatory union dues, saying his stance was an “enhancement of workers’ rights and freedoms”. He criticized union spending transparency after federal public service unions funded political causes, like Quebec’s 2012 student protests. It was a controversial position as many public servants in Poilievre’s riding opposed it. But he persevered.
In Poilievre 2013, was named to cabinet by Harper as minister of state for democratic reform. He introduced Bill C-23, the Fair Elections Act, which expanded voter ID requirements but eliminated the vouching system, sparking opposition from electoral officials and experts. Critics, including former Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley, argued that the changes undermined accessibility. Poilievre countered by accusing Elections Canada’s Marc Mayrand of seeking “more power, a bigger budget, and less accountability.” The bill passed and received royal assent. In 2014, Poilievre introduced Bill C-50, the Citizen Voting Act, which imposed stricter ID requirements for expatriates voting abroad. It was a response to an Ontario court ruling in Frank v. Canada that found restrictions on long-term expatriates unconstitutional. In 2015, Harper promoted Poilievre to minister of employment and social development while keeping him in the democratic reform portfolio and as the political minister for the oversight of the National Capital Commission. During this period, Poilievre voted against raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour and supported union transparency reforms, including Bill C-377, which made union dues optional. The bill was passed in June 2015 but was later repealed in 2017 under the Trudeau Liberal government.
Hitting his Stride – a Conservative Leader in Waiting Emerges 2015-2017
The years between 2015 and 2021 were a defining period in Poilievre’s political and personal journey, marked by both notable successes and significant challenges. In December 2017, he married Anaida Galindo, who worked as a parliamentary affairs advisor in the Senate. Galindo’s family immigrated to Canada from Venezuela when she was a child and settled in Montreal. They have two children, Valentina and Cruz.
The day after the 2015 election, The Ottawa Citizen noted, “Pierre Poilievre won his fifth straight election Monday night but returns to Parliament as the only Conservative left standing in the City of Ottawa.” Poilievre had demonstrated incredible resilience in the face of the Trudeau Liberal wave that swept much of the nation. Running in the newly created redistributed riding of Carleton, he secured victory with 46 percent of the vote, with 30,441 votes holding off Liberal candidate Chris Rodgers with 25,052 votes. Despite a significantly reduced margin compared to his previous elections, Poilievre’s win underscored his strong connection to constituents and his ability to mobilize support and get out his vote.
With the Conservatives reduced to Official Opposition status and Prime Minister Stephen Harper exiting politics, interim leader Rona Ambrose appointed Poilievre as the Treasury Board critic. He quickly transitioned from his role as a cabinet minister to an opposition figure with an uncanny ability to rile the Trudeau government front bench. During this period, he also introduced a private member’s bill (C-395) to eliminate income and payroll taxes for people with disabilities. Although it garnered support from the New Democratic Party, the bill failed to pass due to opposition from the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois.
Accountability Check: Pierre Poilievre’s Tenacious Opposition from 2017-2021
In 2017, Poilievre was appointed shadow minister of finance under newly elected Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. With 12 years of parliamentary experience, including time as a cabinet minister, Poilievre’s understanding of government operations combined with his knowledge of parliamentary procedure, relentless scrutiny and incisive rhetoric soon made him a household name—and a big thorn in the side of both the Trudeau Liberals and the Singh-led NDP. He deftly exposed scandals, highlighted policy failures, and advocated for Canadians facing economic and social challenges. In 2017, Poilievre defended Canadians with diabetes when the Canada Revenue Agency attempted to revoke their eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit. His advocacy led to the reversal of the decision, preserving critical financial support for over 300,000 type 1 (juvenile) diabetics in Canada.
Between 2017 and 2019, Poilievre introduced measures in Parliament to protect pensions during corporate bankruptcies, focusing on financial stability for retirees. He relentlessly zeroed in on the Trudeau government’s lack of fiscal responsibility. He criticized the government for its spending, debt and deficits, advocating for balanced budgets. As a former housing minister, he raised concerns about the growing housing crisis, calling for reduced red tape and incentives to boost construction, increase supply, and improve affordability.
On the energy front, Poilievre and the Conservatives opposed several key decisions made by the Trudeau Liberal government. In 2016, he criticized the cancellation of the Northern Gateway pipeline, a $7.9 billion project that would have expanded market access and boosted exports to Asia. In 2017, he sharply criticized the government after the Energy East pipeline project was withdrawn when the Trudeau government required the company to account for greenhouse gas emissions from oil production and consumption.
In 2019, Poilievre opposed the government-enacted Bill C-69, which introduced subjective criteria into the evaluation of major energy projects, creating significant uncertainty. The same year, Bill C-48 was passed, banning large oil tankers from B.C.’s northern coast, further limiting access to Asian markets.
In contrast to Liberal government energy policies, Poilievre remained a strong advocate for producing ‘clean, ethical Canadian energy’, arguing that a robust energy sector, including pipeline development, was vital for job creation and affordability. He strongly opposed the carbon tax embraced by both the Liberals and NDP.
In July 2020, a Fraser Institute report reinforced Poilievre’s concerns when it reported that the Trudeau government’s energy policies had contributed to substantial job losses and a 35 percent decline in oil and gas investment in Canada since 2015.
The Deep State -Poilievre Uncovers the SNC-Lavalin scandal
In 2019, Pierre Poilievre gained national attention for exposing the Trudeau government’s misconduct during the SNC-Lavalin scandal. The controversy centred on allegations that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Michael Wernick, the clerk of the Privy Council, had improperly pressured then-Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) for SNC-Lavalin, allowing the corporation to avoid criminal prosecution.
Through his committee work, Pierre Poilievre discovered that DPA’s had been discreetly included in the 2018 Federal Budget Implementation Act, hidden within Division 20 of a 385-page bill. During committee hearings, even Liberal MP Wayne Easter, the finance committee chair, admitted he was unaware of the changes to the criminal code that had been added by federal bureaucrats under the direction of Trudeau’s associates. Poilievre’s revelations and subsequent questioning exposed a stunning abuse of process, disregard for the law and judicial independence, and revealed significant backroom dealings and unethical influence by Liberal lobbyists.
Wilson-Raybould, Canada’s first Indigenous attorney general, resigned in protest after resisting pressure from Trudeau and Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick to change the criminal code without proper Parliamentary approval. Following her resignation, Health Minister Jane Philpott also resigned, citing a loss of confidence in the government’s ethics. Poilievre’s exposure of the SNC affair revealed systemic corruption and permanently damaged Trudeau’s credibility, marking the end of his “sunny ways” image. As a result of the SNC-Lavalin scandal and other ethical lapses by Trudeau and his ministers, the Trudeau Liberal majority was reduced to a minority government in the October 2019 election. Poilievre was re-elected in his riding with a significantly larger margin, reflecting his growing popularity among constituents.
Family First and the We Charity Scandal
In December 2019, Andrew Scheer stepped down as party leader, and Poilievre was widely viewed within the Conservative Party as a strong contender to succeed him. He began preparing for a leadership bid but ultimately chose not to run, prioritizing time with his young family. This decision left many of his supporters disappointed but still supportive.
As multiple Tory candidates vied to raise their profile to replace Scheer, ‘non-candidate’ Poilievre attracted national attention by playing a key role in exposing the WE Charity scandal. The Trudeau government attempted to award a lucrative, sole-sourced, untendered contract of over $900 million to an organization with close ties to Trudeau’s family. Poilievre’s relentless questioning of the Prime Minister during the height of the scandal exposed Trudeau’s cavalier attitude towards taxpayer dollars and conflict of interest and ethics guidelines.
Under direct questioning from Poilievre, Trudeau struggled to explain how he was not in a conflict of interest when over $500,000 in payments and expenses from the WE Charity had been paid to his relatives.
Poilievre also raised the matter of the $41,000 in travel expenses covered by WE for Trudeau’s Finance Minister Bill Morneau. These revelations ultimately led to Morneau’s resignation. Poilievre’s critiques also damaged the credibility of Jagmeet Singh and the NDP, who had simultaneously expressed outrage over the corruption of the Trudeau Liberals about WE but then turned around and supported the government on a confidence vote that would have brought the government down over its corruption in the affair.
Poilievre’s Relentless Pursuit: Exposing Trudeau’s COVID-19 Missteps
In August 2020, Erin O’Toole was elected leader of the Conservative Party and reassigned Pierre Poilievre from shadow finance critic to the jobs and industry portfolio. This move led to speculation that O’Toole, whose reserved leadership style contrasted with Poilievre’s combative approach, aimed to diminish Poilievre’s influence.
Sensing internal disarray within the Tories, the Trudeau Liberals, amid a COVID-19 spending frenzy, sought to secure a majority government by positioning the Tories as being out of sync with Canadians on the response to COVID-19. On August 15, 2021, Trudeau requested the dissolution of Parliament and called a snap election, claiming he required a stronger mandate to implement his COVID policies. The election was polarizing and resulted in another minority government for the Liberals, similar to the 2019 outcome.
Poilievre was handily re-elected in his riding, while O’Toole faced significant criticism for his failure to improve Tory fortunes nationally and came under pressure to step down. In November 2021, O’Toole reinstated Poilievre as shadow finance critic.
One of the controversial policies during the COVID-19 pandemic was the Bank of Canada’s decision to use quantitative easing (QE), buying government bonds to inject money into the economy. The Bank of Canada (BOC) bought $260 billion in government bonds from 2020 to 2022 to lower interest rates and boost the economy. Poilievre and the Conservatives opposed the policy, arguing it would lead to higher inflation and national debt, raising concerns about Canada’s financial health. Poilievre rallied against QE in 2020, 2021, and 2022, warning that the bank’s policies were dangerous and could contribute to high inflation if interest rates rose. His concerns were dismissed by BOC Governor Tiff Macklem, Liberal ministers, and Prime Minister Trudeau. Poilievre also accused the Liberals of spending billions without proper oversight.
Poilievre’s concerns were validated. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the BOC kept interest rates very low at 0.25 percent to help the economy. However, as inflation rose, they had to increase rates quickly, exceeding 8 percent by mid-2023. This made borrowing money, especially for mortgages, much more expensive, causing financial stress for many Canadian families. The significant increase in inflation and national debt supported Poilievre’s argument that QE was risky and harmful. His concerns about asset bubbles and the negative impact on working-class Canadians were validated by a stark economic downturn and dramatic increase in debt and interest rates.
In 2022, as interest rates rose exponentially in Canada, Poilievre renewed his criticism of BOC Governor Tiff Macklem, accusing the central bank of being “financially illiterate” and calling for Macklem to be fired. Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest called his remarks irresponsible, and Prime Minister Trudeau and his front bench criticized Poilievre. Former BOC governor David Dodge went on CTV’s Question Period, calling Poilievre’s assertion that the central bank was “financially illiterate” “bull****.” In response, Poilievre doubled down, tweeting that “Former central banker Dodge should be embarrassed he said nothing as the Bank of Canada became Trudeau’s ATM… The establishment doesn’t want to be held accountable for the misery they caused our working class. Too bad. Get used to it. I’m just getting started.”
Despite the backlash, Poilievre’s criticisms gained traction as inflation continued to rise to levels not seen in five decades, leading some to view his warnings as prescient. By 2023, it was clear that Poilievre’s assertions about inflation due to quantitative easing and other Trudeau policies were fueling inflation across the country and had put Canada in the highest debt in its history.
Keep on Truckin-The Freedom Convoy and Emergency Measures Act
As the pandemic reached its two-year mark, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s divisive rhetoric against dissenters over his COVID-19 policies heightened tensions across Canada. He labelled citizens who came to protest in the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa and those who were unvaccinated as “racists” and “misogynists,” alienating many Canadians already frustrated by prolonged lockdowns and their impacts on small businesses, mental health, and education.
In January 2022, the Freedom Convoy protests began in Ottawa, effectively shutting down large parts of the Parliamentary and neighbouring districts. Prime Minister Trudeau refused to meet with protestors, calling them a “fringe minority” and accusing them of “hate, abuse, and racism.” This only intensified the situation. Despite Trudeau’s accusations, the vast majority of participants were peacefully protesting the COVID-19 mandates.
Poilievre opposed federal COVID-19 mandates on truckers and workers and supported their views on individual freedoms. He met with the protesters, listened to their grievances, and emphasized their right to peaceful protest, contrasting Trudeau’s dismissal of the movement as extremist.
This stance was risky, as many Ottawa residents were angry and frustrated with the protests and police inaction, which left several neighbourhoods feeling besieged. As an MP in the national capital area, Poilievre faced criticism from his constituents and the local and national media, but he remained steadfast. As time passed, the situation further deteriorated under Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly, who seemed incapable of managing the police response to the crisis. The Rouleau Inquiry later criticized Sloly for ineffective planning and poor coordination during the blockade.
As the Freedom Convoy protests grew, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s refusal to engage protestors and his decision to invoke the Emergencies Act in 2022 to end the demonstrations fueled tensions. Justice Minister David Lametti’s invocation of the Act was criticized by various groups, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Poilievre, who argued it infringed on Charter Rights and condemned the move as excessive. Incredulously, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP voted in unison with the Trudeau government to invoke the Act and suspend Canadians’ civil liberties. A federal court later ruled that the invocation of the Emergencies Act was illegal, further reinforcing Poilievre’s stance against the Trudeau government’s overreach. In July 2023, Trudeau removed David Lametti from the cabinet, along with Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino, who oversaw public safety when the government invoked the Act in early 2022. Lametti announced his resignation from public office in January 2024, and Mendicino announced he was quitting politics in 2025 after criticizing his own government for its weak response to increasing amounts of violence against Jewish Canadians and antisemitism in Canada.
Back to the Future: A New Leader, A New Vision for Canada (2021-present)
Following Erin O’Toole’s ousting as Conservative party leader on February 2, 2022, Poilievre moved quickly and, on February 5, declared his candidacy, stating, “I’m running for Prime Minister.”
The 2022 Conservative leadership race featured several candidates: Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison, Roman Baber, and Patrick Brown, who was later disqualified. Poilievre had strong grassroots support nationally, and his effective use of social media and clear messaging on key issues like fiscal responsibility and individual freedoms resonated with Conservatives. His speeches were popular and well-attended. True to form, he took direct shots at Charest and Brown, accusing Charest of being ’a Liberal’ and disqualifying Brown for his support of a carbon tax. His campaign team played hardball, airing attack ads against Brown and paying the legal fees of a whistleblower who claimed Brown had broken election laws, leading to Brown’s disqualification. On September 10, 2022, Poilievre won the leadership on the first ballot with 68.15 percent of points and 70.7 percent of the vote share. His first ballot victory was a complete blowout -bigger than Stephen Harper’s win in the party’s 2004 leadership election. Poilievre won 330 out of 338 electoral districts. He had most of the Conservative caucus onboard as well.
After the results were announced, Poilievre was introduced to the cheering Conservative crowd by his dynamic and articulate spouse, Anaida. For many Canadians, this was their first time seeing her. She delivered a heartfelt speech about her family’s journey as immigrants to Canada and their life here. She spoke about her husband’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to serving Canadians, expressing her pride in his accomplishments. Her remarks were warm and personal, highlighting their strong partnership and her own political acumen.
In his victory speech, Poilievre thanked his wife, Anaida and emphasized the importance of immigration by sharing her family’s story of coming to Canada from Venezuela with almost nothing and building successful lives. He also expressed gratitude to his adoptive parents, his birth mother, his gay father, and his father’s partner, Ross. Poilievre thanked his supporters and the campaign team for their hard work and dedication throughout the campaign.
On September 12, 2022, Poilievre gave his first speech to his caucus as Leader of the Opposition. The following day, he named MP Melissa Lantsman as Deputy Leader. A month later, he unveiled his shadow cabinet, which included former leadership rivals Leslyn Lewis and Scott Aitchison.
Cage Fighting — Combating Mainstream Media Bias in Canada
As the new Conservative leader, Poilievre quickly established a pathway and vision for Canada in sharp contrast with the progressive-socialist agenda of the Trudeau and Singh alliance, which had brought Canadians more taxes, more spending, and more government intervention. Poilievre said Conservative priorities and policies would focus on fiscal responsibility, lowering taxes, and eliminating waste to combat inflation and rising living costs. He emphasized advocating for a smaller, more efficient government that prioritizes economic growth, job creation, and individual freedoms. He introduced plans for tackling housing affordability, reducing healthcare bureaucracy, and reforming immigration to better manage resources. He also put a laser focus on holding the Trudeau government accountable for the ongoing corruption and ethics violations that had marked its tenure since 2015. However, Poilievre’s opponents were not just the Trudeau Liberals-and-Singh NDP alliance.
The Media and Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre has consistently criticized Canada’s mainstream media, accusing it of bias against conservatives and for ignoring or failing to report on his policy proposals. He claimed that mainstream media coverage disproportionately focuses on personalities and political theatrics while neglecting policies the Conservatives have put forward on housing affordability, government spending, and energy development. However, a common and false refrain from legacy media in Canada is that Poilievre only attacks the Liberals without offering solutions. A notable example is his “Bring Home Common Sense” plan, which outlines measures to make housing more accessible, including penalizing municipalities that obstruct new developments and linking federal funding to housing targets. He has also laid out specific policies for energy, immigration, criminal justice, and addressing the drug crisis in Canadian cities and small towns.
In response, Poilievre has criticized publicly funded outlets like the CBC, as well as private media organizations such as Canadian Press, Bell Media, and TorStar, claiming they favour Liberal policies due to federal funding and interference. He has cited the Trudeau government’s media subsidies as contributing to a lack of impartiality in Canadian journalism. His campaign to defund the CBC and advocate for independent journalism reflects his broader concern about media influence on public discourse and its role in shaping political narratives.
Despite the legacy media’s dismissive outrage at Poilievre’s claims, they are backed by specific incidents and data, suggesting his concerns are not without merit. In the 2019 election race, CBC and its chief political correspondent, Rosemary Barton, filed a controversial lawsuit against the Conservative Party of Canada, alleging copyright violation for using CBC footage in campaign ads. The court ruled in favour of the Conservative Party, finding their use of the footage fell under “fair dealing.” Despite losing the case and having to pay hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to cover all legal costs, including the Conservative costs, CBC executives and Barton faced no consequences, and no public apology was issued, reinforcing concerns about CBC’s bias and lack of accountability.
CBC’s bias reappeared in 2023 when they falsely reported that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had pressured prosecutors to drop COVID-19 public health violation cases just before an election call. Despite the misleading and damaging false reporting, Smith won re-election. Only after facing legal threats and widespread criticism did CBC issue an apology, acknowledging the inaccuracy of its reporting.
Media Bias and Accountability in the biggest political story of the year
On December 17, 2024, CBC national reporter Janyce McGregor covered the resignation of Chrystia Freeland. Instead of focusing on the significant issues surrounding Freeland’s departure, McGregor directed her attention to criticizing Poilievre and his wife, Anaida. The Poilievres had suggested that Freeland’s resignation may have been influenced by misogyny—a point worth considering given Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s history of contentious relationships with female cabinet ministers.
Trudeau has faced accusations of mistreating female colleagues and was previously embroiled in a groping allegation involving a reporter when he was 28 years old. However, McGregor dismissed Poilievre’s perspective, calling it fiction and stating, “That is not something that lines up with reporting done by professional journalists to date.” Instead of questioning why Freeland had not mentioned her treatment by Trudeau in her remarks, McGregor dismissed the gender angle completely, choosing to ignore the broader context of Trudeau’s treatment of women in politics because, as she said, “Freeland didn’t mention it in her remarks”.
McGregor raised further eyebrows when she criticized Poilievre’s economic commentary during the same report. She claimed it was “somewhat new” for him to highlight the declining value of the Canadian dollar, even though it had fallen below 70 cents USD that very morning—the lowest rate since early 2020. Instead of acknowledging the significance of this legitimate financial issue, widely reported by credible outlets, McGregor framed the weakening Canadian dollar as a potential economic benefit, a viewpoint most would find questionable at best and contrary to Poilievre’s facts. McGregor’s attempt to discredit Poilievre’s comments on Freeland’s resignation and his economic analysis revealed a striking lack of self-awareness, particularly given the growing public mistrust of CBC’s reporting.
These incidents and others underscore a broader accountability issue at the CBC. In 2022, Poilievre said, “The CBC is a propaganda arm of the Liberal Party. They spend their time attacking Conservatives and promoting Liberal narratives, all while funded by taxpayers.” McGregor’s on-air actions appeared to validate his claim in real time.
CBC bias and repeated lapses in accuracy and fairness, originating from CBC editors and reporters, have significantly eroded public trust. This is reflected in the ratings for the broadcaster, which have collapsed since the Liberals took office in 2015, despite their budget increasing by 20 percent. Of particular concern is CBC’s national and international coverage since October 2023 on matters related to the war in Gaza. The network has been widely criticized for its one-sided, inaccurate, and ideologically driven reporting, particularly in its portrayal of Israel. Honest Reporting Canada has documented over 130 cases as of August 2024 of misreporting by the CBC on the Hamas-Gaza conflict, raising serious questions about the broadcaster’s editorial ethics and impartiality. These issues have contributed to a growing public mistrust of CBC’s reporting.
Poilievre has not backed down from his determination to defund CBC, citing its biased reporting as a primary reason. In December 2024, he pledged again to defund CBC if elected.
Shortly after Pierre Poilievre won the Conservative leadership in 2022, Global News Chief Political Correspondent David Akin repeatedly showcased his bias and unprofessionalism when he interrupted and heckled Poilievre at his first post-victory news conference on Parliament Hill. Akin’s boorish behaviour led Poilievre to bluntly call him a “Liberal heckler.” Akin later apologized, admitting he was rude and disrespectful, but the point had been made.
In September 2024, CTV, owned by Bell Media, aired a manipulated and out-of-context clip of Poilievre during a House of Commons debate that made it appear like Poilievre had introduced a non-confidence motion solely to defeat the Liberal’s dental care program. CTV later apologized to Poilievre and viewers, acknowledging the clip was taken out of context, and they said they had ‘removed two members of its editorial team involved in the incident.
In November 2023, a CP reporter falsely accused Pierre Poilievre of making false claims about terrorist activity. When questioned, Poilievre corrected her, but she doubled down on the claim. Poilievre corrected her again, stating he had raised the issue in the House of Commons based on media reports. He said, “We’ve just heard media reports of a terrorist attack, an explosion, at the Niagara crossing of the Canada-U.S. border. At least two people are dead; one is injured. It is the principal responsibility of the government to protect the people. Can the prime minister give us an update on what he knows and what action plan he will immediately implement to bring home security for our people?”
Incredibly, Andrew Coyne, a columnist with the Globe and Mail and a member of the At Issue panel on CBC’s The National, posted the exchange on X, and instead of admonishing the CP reporter who made the false and accusatory claims, he criticized Poilievre saying, I don’t know who he thinks he’s impressing with this campus Tory childishness, but they’re probably already voting for him”.
The Munching on an Apple Interview Goes Viral
During an October 2023 interview known as ‘the apple interview’ that went viral and was watched by millions, Don Urquhart, editor of the Times Chronicle, posed unprepared and leading questions to Poilievre in an attempt to gaslight him to present him as an extremist. Poilievre’s response, while chomping on an apple, methodically challenged Urquhart’s vague assertions, exposing his inability to substantiate any of his claims and showed his lack of depth, understanding or knowledge regarding the questions he had posed to Poilievre.
In yet another incident, a CP reporter asked a question to Poilievre about media funding by the government in Canada and began heckling him when he challenged her question, saying it was not based on fact but on a narrative put out by the Trudeau government.
Poilievre has criticized the Liberal government for funding selected media outlets in Canada with billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money, arguing it attempts to control and influence the media. He alleges that the Trudeau government’s funding of these media outlets is an attempt to stifle dissenting voices and ensure favourable coverage for the Liberal government. The Conservatives have committed to cancelling the highly controversial Online News Act (formerly Bill C-18) that came into effect in June 2023 and has decimated small digital news businesses and community digital news sites across Canada. Renowned lawyer Michael Geist, the Canada research chair in internet and e-commerce law, wrote in September 2023 that the Online News Act has “been an utter disaster, leading to millions in lost revenues with cancelled deals, reduced traffic for Canadian media sites, declining investment in media in Canada, and few options to salvage this mess”.
Another notable incident involved a reporter who was poorly informed about crime in Canada and the workings of the judicial system. Instead of posing objective, fact-based questions, the reporter adopted an accusatory tone in his questions to Poilievre, parroting federal Liberal policies on crime instead of asking objective questions. Poilievre sarcastically dismantled the reporter’s questions with facts, leaving him looking foolish. This moment highlighted the lack of preparedness in media questioning, which is all too common today.
To counter perceived media bias, Pierre Poilievre has turned to social media to communicate directly with Canadians, bypassing traditional outlets. This strategy has been highly effective. Poilievre’s social media team has set a new benchmark for political messaging, effectively reaching their audience and targeting opponents with precision. Poilievre began 2025 off with a bang. On January 2, The Daily Wire released an interview with Jordan Peterson speaking with Poilievre, which went viral with over 40 million views. Elon Musk also posted it on X.
Pierre Poilievre: Reshaping the Conservative Party
Since winning the Conservative leadership, Pierre Poilievre has tirelessly worked to reshape the party into a mainstream political force. Over the past two years, he has travelled across Canada, connecting with Canadians at over 600 events and listening to their concerns about their lives, jobs, and frustrations with the Trudeau-Singh Coalition government. Poilievre argues that after eight years under Justin Trudeau, supported by Jagmeet Singh’s NDP, Canada is more divided, financially strained, and burdened by debt. He says Trudeau’s policies of high spending, deficits, and taxes have led to soaring national debt, inflation, low productivity, and a weakened economy. Public sector employment now accounts for 1 in 4 jobs in Canada, putting further strain on taxpayers.
Contrary to claims by his Liberal and NDP opponents, Poilievre has been clear about his priorities if elected. Stopping overspending, axing the carbon tax, and boosting Canadian energy production are key among them. He says, “Instead of creating more cash, we’re going to create more of what cash buys: grow food, build homes, and produce Canadian resources.” He has pledged to establish a Tax Reform Commission to lower taxes for working-class Canadians, reduce compliance burdens, and support Canadian-made products. As Prime Minister, he would restore law and order and move away from Trudeau’s policies, including those allowing open drug use on Canadian streets. Poilievre says he “will lead a small government that minds its own business, letting people make their own decisions about their love lives, their families, their bodies, their speech, their beliefs, and their money. We will put people back in charge of their lives in the freest country in the world.”
Poilievre has countered attempts by the Liberals and NDP to paint him as an extremist or social conservative. He has shut down these claims on same-sex marriage and abortion issues, stating, “As our party’s policy book, adopted by party members, has said for years, ’a Conservative Government will not support any legislation to regulate abortion.’ When I am prime minister, no laws or rules will be passed that restrict women’s reproductive choices. Period.”
Poilievre also got out in front of the Liberal obsession with gender politics and policies to allow biological males into female-only spaces when he supported Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s transgender legislation and affirmed his position for a national audience. Poilievre has been specific about what change looks like on a number of key issues.
Poilievre on the Rising Tide of Antisemitism and violence against Jewish citizens
Pierre Poilievre has been vocal in condemning the Trudeau government for failing to protect Jewish citizens and allowing antisemitism to flourish in Canada. Poilievre continues to highlight the surge in antisemitic incidents, including attacks on synagogues and Jewish schools and has accused the Trudeau government of enabling this rise in hate. He has pledged to take a strong stance against antisemitism, ensuring that Jewish Canadians feel safe and supported in Canada. Poilievre has also criticized Prime Minister Trudeau for sending MPs to mosques to say one thing and other MPs to synagogues to say the opposite. He says clarity and support for Jewish Canadians is paramount and that he would never engage in such duplicity and stands firmly against antisemitism.
Canada’s Public Service: A Growing Concern
Poilievre emphasizes that Trudeau’s governance model has increased inefficiency, bureaucracy, and pressure on the private sector. He advocates for a shift toward fiscal responsibility, smaller government, and policies that prioritize economic growth, tax relief, and affordability over unchecked spending.
The size of Canada’s public service has ballooned by 43 percent, growing from 257,034 employees in 2015 to 367,772 in 2024, with costs rising 75 percent—from $39 billion under Stephen Harper to $68 billion today. Despite this massive expansion, service delivery has worsened, plagued by delays, red tape, and corruption. Layers of management, excessive bureaucracy, and a heavy focus on identity politics have raised doubts about whether taxpayers are getting value for their money.
Federal job growth far outpaces population growth (less than 15 percent). Newfoundland and Labrador saw a 61.5 percent increase, while New Brunswick rose 62 percent. In Western Canada, British Columbia grew 30 percent and Alberta 36 percent. Departments like the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) grew by 48 percent to 59,000 employees, while the Privy Council Office expanded by 77 percent, and the Department for Women and Gender Equality quadrupled from 92 to 443 employees.
Despite significant growth in Canada’s public service, improvements to services have been minimal or nonexistent. In 2017, the Trudeau government created Indigenous Services Canada alongside the existing Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, effectively doubling the budget for Indigenous services. However, eight years later, both the Parliamentary Budget Officer and Auditor General report little progress in key areas such as health, education, and infrastructure. Persistent service gaps mean Indigenous communities continue to face the same systemic challenges, even with the doubling in spending.
Incredibly, despite Trudeau’s massive expansion of the federal bureaucracy, public sector unions like PSAC—already among the highest-paid workers in Canada—threatened to strike in the fall of 2024 because they were required to show up to work in person three days a week. Two years after COVID ended, while private-sector employees, small business owners, and frontline workers have long returned to normal, some government employees seem to believe that commuting to their taxpayer-funded jobs is an unreasonable burden. It’s a level of entitlement that leaves many Canadians shaking their heads.
Trump and the Americans
Poilievre has made it clear that he intends to take a firm stance against Donald Trump’s economic policies and tariffs if he becomes Prime Minister. He has vowed to “fight fire with fire” by implementing policies aimed at attracting investment and higher wages in Canada. He says he plans to make the case against tariffs directly to American union workers and business leaders, emphasizing the harm these tariffs would cause both economies. He supports increased security at the U.S.-Canada border and says he will end tariffs on softwood lumber while securing exemptions to “Buy American” policies. Poilievre says his approach is to put Canada first, ensuring the country’s economic independence and sovereignty in the face of Trump’s protectionist measures.
Immigration crisis
Poilievre continues to raise concern about the Trudeau government’s bungling of the immigration file. He says he will implement a tougher policy against illegal immigration while advocating for a more efficient and supportive system for legal immigrants. He has criticized the Trudeau government for allowing the illegal border crossings at Roxham Road to continue, arguing that this undermines the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. In 2023, Poilievre called for the closure of irregular border crossing points and the modification of the “Safe Third Country Agreement” to end loopholes that allow illegal migration. Despite his tough stance on illegal immigration, Poilievre describes himself as pro-immigration. He says a Conservative government will invoke policies that speed up processing times for immigration to reunite families, keep refugees safe, and fill job vacancies in Canada.
He has also proposed negotiating agreements with provinces to license qualified professionals within 60 days of receiving applications, providing study loans to help new immigrants pass examinations, and allowing immigrants to receive licenses before moving to Canada.
To address healthcare shortages, Poilievre says he plans to implement interprovincial standardization for doctors and nurses through a “Blue Seal” program. He also aims to ensure provinces expedite the approval of professional credentials for certified immigrants to increase the number of healthcare providers. Poilievre’s vision for immigration in Canada focuses on maintaining the integrity of the system, supporting legal immigrants, and addressing critical shortages in sectors like healthcare. His policies aim to create a more efficient and fair immigration process while ensuring that Canada remains a welcoming and prosperous country for newcomers.
Climate Change, Energy, the Carbon Tax and Carbon Tax Carney
Poilievre has long opposed the carbon tax and has committed to cancelling it immediately upon taking office. He characterizes it as “inflationary.”
He also favours repealing two bills he describes as “anti-energy”: Bill C-48, which prohibits oil tankers of a certain size from docking along the north coast of British Columbia, and Bill C-69, which assesses Canada’s environment. He criticized the Trudeau government for selling off major pipelines and cancelling others, advocating for a robust Canadian energy sector, including pipeline development, which he says is vital for job creation, affordability, and Canada’s clean energy economy.
Poilievre favours addressing climate change through green technology and setting targets to reduce carbon emissions rather than using taxes. He plans to incentivize technologies like carbon capture and storage. Additionally, he aims to increase the production of electric cars by greenlighting more mining of lithium, cobalt, and copper required for vehicles and batteries.
In Quebec, Poilievre called for reducing “red tape” and permitting more construction of hydroelectric dams. He believes Canadian energy is cleaner than that of other countries and proposes a ban on importing foreign oil and a review of all pipeline projects cancelled by the current government.
Poilievre’s views on climate change and carbon taxes, and his criticism of the Trudeau government’s economic policies, were highlighted in 2023 during a heated exchange with Mark Carney, a current Liberal leadership candidate and former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England. Carney, now a key executive at Brookfield Asset Management and an advisor on energy and climate change for the Liberal government, faced tough questions from Poilievre. The exchange underscored Poilievre’s belief that the Trudeau government’s climate policies were harming the Canadian economy.
Housing and Affordability
Pierre Poilievre has criticized the Trudeau government for its handling of the cost of living and housing crisis. He advocates reducing red tape and boosting housing construction. Poilievre has proposed specific policies, including cancelling the HST on housing projects and selling off federal properties to build housing. He introduced Bill C-356, the Building Homes Not Bureaucracy Act, to increase homebuilding. *While he criticized investors for driving up housing prices, he defended his own real estate investments as providing affordable housing’.
Poilievre’s Plan to Tackle Drugs Big Pharma
Poilievre supports maintaining the legalization of marijuana but opposes the decriminalization of certain illicit drugs. He advocates for directing resources towards recovery and treatment programs to give people hope for a drug-free life while also supporting strong policing against drug dealers. Poilievre has criticized the Trudeau government’s handling of the opioid crisis, particularly federal funding of safe supply programs, and attacked its relationship with consulting firm McKinsey, which settled a $600 million lawsuit in the U.S. over its role in the opioid crisis.
In 2023, he committed that a federal government led by him will sue major pharmaceutical companies to recover federal dollars spent on the opioid crisis. His aims are to recover costs related to healthcare, border security, the criminal justice system, Indigenous programs, lost tax revenue, and expanded treatment programs. Poilievre says a Conservative government will join a B.C.-led class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and their consultants, seeking $44 billion in federal dollars spent on healthcare and lost tax revenue. The money recovered would go to treatment and recovery programs for those struggling with addiction. The B.C.-led lawsuit, filed in 2018, targets over 40 drug manufacturers and retailers for deceptive marketing practices that led to addictions and overdose deaths. In June 2022, Purdue Pharma Canada agreed to a proposed settlement of $150 million with B.C. on behalf of all provinces and territories.
Defence and Foreign Affairs
Poilievre says he supports the Canadian Armed Forces having a “warrior culture” rather than a “woke culture” and the need for a strong and capable military. He says a Conservative government under his leadership would cut “wasteful” foreign aid and “back-office bureaucracy” to increase funding for the Canadian military. However, Poilievre has not committed a number or percentage to defence spending other than saying Canada must meet its defence commitments to NATO and NORAD. He has been unclear about how he will achieve that and the amount of money he will commit to meet those goals.
Poilievre says he will cut all aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).UNRWA employees participated in the genocidal Hamas attacks on October 7, and Poilievre continues to raise the issue of why the Trudeau government continues to fund UNRWA (to the tune of $110 million Canadian tax dollars since 2019) given their support for the terrorist organization, Hamas.
Since becoming leader, Poilievre has been active in introducing and supporting various legislative initiatives and policy positions. Here is a chronological overview of his key actions and stances:
Healthcare
Poilievre introduced Bill C-278, the Prevention of Government-imposed Vaccination Mandates Act, aiming to end federally enforced COVID-19 vaccine mandates. He also supported a Conservative private member’s bill to amend the Criminal Code, prohibiting coercion of health professionals in medical assistance in dying. (The bill was defeated by Liberal, NDP, and Bloc votes). The Conservatives, under Poilievre, opposed Bill C-31, the controversial and deeply underfunded ‘public dental care program.
Jail Not Bail: Poilievre’s Plan to Reform Canada’s Criminal Justice System
Pierre Poilievre has proposed a “Jail Not Bail” policy to address crime in Canada. He plans to deny bail to repeat violent offenders and ensure they serve their full sentences. A Poilievre government will implement stricter bail requirements and make it harder for convicted murderers to transfer out of maximum-security prisons. Poilievre says he supports using the notwithstanding clause to pass criminal laws if necessary if it will help get criminals off the streets and reduce crime rates across the country.
Pierre Poilievre’s Plan for Government Ethics Reform
Pierre Poilievre has pledged to reform government ethics and hold individuals accountable for corruption and ethical breaches. He has criticized the Trudeau government record for its numerous conflict-of-interest violations and lack of accountability. He says he will strengthen federal ethics laws, particularly the Conflict-of-Interest Act, to ensure stricter enforcement and transparency. He wants changes to the law to ensure there are clear consequences for ethical breaches and corruption by those in public office. Expect Poilievre and the Conservatives to push for an audit of federal COVID-19 spending, including the ArriveCAN app. Poilievre may also initiate a parliamentary probe into the Liberal government’s relationship with McKinsey & Company due to a dramatic increase in federal contracts that went to the company during the Trudeau years.
Pierre Poilievre: A Remarkable & Unfinished Journey
Pierre Poilievre’s story is one of resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to his principles. Born to a young birth mother and adopted by a loving family, Poilievre was raised modestly, instilling in him the values of hard work and perseverance. His journey from these humble beginnings to becoming a prominent political leader is a testament to his intelligence, education, and exceptional debating skills.
Throughout his career, Poilievre has demonstrated high interpersonal skills and principled leadership. His political career has had highs and lows, and his occasional blunt political style is refreshing at a time when people are seeking straight answers and accountability rather than sunny ways and corruption. Poilievre is a self-aware person. Caucus members say he is friendly, engaging, respectful, and has a great self-deprecating sense of humour.
He has connected with Canadians across the country, listening to their concerns and advocating for policies that address their needs. His ability to articulate his vision and engage with people has made him a compelling figure in Canadian politics.
As a husband to Anaida Poilievre (nee Galindo), whose family immigrated to Canada from Venezuela, Poilievre understands the challenges and opportunities that come with building a new life in a new country. This personal connection to the immigrant experience has shaped his views on immigration and his commitment to creating a welcoming and prosperous Canada for all.
Poilievre’s career has been marked by his dedication to fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and strong leadership. He has consistently held the government accountable, whether through his grilling of Liberal Mark Carney in committee meetings or his strong statements in support of the Jewish community and condemnation of antisemitism.
As Canadians look to the future, Poilievre’s vision for a prosperous and united Canada offers a pathway very different from the Trudeau Liberal-NDP Singh socialist experiment that has left Canada on its knees. Poilievre believes Canadians must reclaim the values that have made the country great. His remarkable journey from an adopted child to Conservative leader and probable next Prime Minister of Canada serves as an inspiration, showing that with hard work, dedication, and a commitment to one’s principles, anything is possible. It’s something his parents told him. According to the polls, a whole generation of Canadian citizens are counting on him.