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Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
The path to new purpose for conservatives
Opinion The lazy days of an August summer are upon us. Unless you're a conservative. If so, you are uncharacteristically unnerved. Having lost a provincial byelection in Quebec last week in a seat they hold federally, they are eying two more. A federal byelection on Monday in Battle River-Crowfoot, Alta. and a provincial one two weeks later in Spruce Woods, Man. Two reliable, deep blue seats are being watched as harbingers of those parties' future political fortunes. Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre will not lose his bid to regain a seat in the House of Commons in the safest CPC seat in the country. His predecessor racked up 83 per cent of the vote in the April election. It's why he chose this seat – as sure a thing as you can get in politics – to smooth his way back into Parliament after his stunning loss in his long-held Carleton, Ont. seat. Spencer Colby /THE CANADIAN PRESS Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to reporters outside West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, May 15, 2025. It is unlikely, but not impossible, that the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba will lose its own safe seat in rural Manitoba. Even in the depths of the electoral meltdown wrought by former premier Heather Stefanson two years ago, their candidate won 62 per cent of the vote. Margins matter in politics. Which is why the margin of victory – or loss – will be watched first in both these byelections. In usual times, neither byelection would matter a whit. But these are unusual times for both parties. They are running against themselves as much as against their governing opponents who are proving durably popular and resilient to electoral challenge. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Wab Kinew would win re-election in a cakewalk right now. Which raises a big question for each conservative party – who are you? Votes measure a party's appeal. But relevance to voters is what drives that appeal. These two conservative parties are relevant to a declining minority of voters. Federal Conservatives showed up late to the most important issue on voters' minds – Trump – in the last election, and they paid the price. They've since seen their policies snatched and repackaged by a newly centrist federal Liberal government. And the vituperative temper and tone they are used to is out-of-step for today's times. Manitoba Progressive Conservatives, meanwhile, are reeling from a deeper election loss than they understand. The NDP government didn't need to resort to stealing PC policies to boost their appeal. Offering a moderate, pragmatic government with a positive face to voters has done the trick. The PCs have since chosen a friendly-face leader too. But this will not paper over profound fissures in the party's brand and appeal, as the fractured leadership results showed with the losing candidate winning more votes but losing on constituency points. Plus, the party continues to fight a rearguard battle against their egregious leadership behaviour both during the campaign and after, during transition. Squaring their debit account with voters will not occur until they square their own account with themselves. In truth, both parties are warring inside. They may decry identity politics, but each is struggling with identifying what kind of conservative they really are. Poilievre is moving to the left, embracing nationalist and union doctrines once solely propagated by the NDP. In the past two weeks, he came out in favour of the Air Canada flight attendant union's demands and called for the rescinding of a contract given to a Chinese firm by B.C. Ferries to build four new ferries even though that would cost more and take longer. While this may be chalked up as fishing for loose left-wing votes from a flatlining federal NDP, the conservative response to Maritime provincial governments banning access to forests and woods to try to prevent more wildfires, shows the real conservative schism. A divide between libertarian populism versus conservative communitarianism. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. Community has long been a part of conservative thought and ideals. Former federal PC leader and prime minister Joe Clark once called Canada 'a community of communities.' The famously influential American conservative, Russell Kirk, set out 10 conservative principles including this one: 'conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.' He described this as flowing from local community decision-making. So long as these decisions are '… kept local and are marked by the general agreement of those affected, they constitute healthy community.' And are conservative. In Canada, that sounds a lot like federalism. But libertarian populists, hyperventilated by COVID pandemic rules and mandates, argue local decisions taken by local authorities are really an unabashed overreach by governments to trample individual rights. It is more than a little ironic when libertarian populism takes on the guise of centralizing authoritarianism in the name of protecting individual liberties. Classic conservatives seek balance in society. They are prudent, recognizing the value of permanence in key institutions and values, while recognizing and reconciling needed societal change. Conservatives understand there exists a public good. There is a greater purpose that transcends the individual even while promoting freedom for the individual to live and achieve as they see fit. Community, based on family, fits into this notion nicely. If conservative parties wish to regain purpose and trust with voters, they need to confront and expel the demon of libertarian populism, ravaging their parties from the inside out. David McLaughlin is a former clerk of the executive council and cabinet secretary in the Manitoba government.
National Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Bell: A no-nonsense Poilievre pulls no punches and stands his ground
Federal Conservative party Leader Pierre Poilievre waves to the crowds during the Calgary Stampede parade on Friday, July 4, 2025. Gavin Young/Postmedia THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors 'How do I feel? Are you my shrink or what?' Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader, was asked how he feels. After all, conservatives had so much hope. Finally, they could see the defeat of the Liberals. We all know the rest of the story. 'We've got to get back on our horse, get back in the saddle and gallop forward. That's all you can do. We made a lot of gains. We came very close,' says Poilievre. What are conservative voters telling him? Your guide to the world of Canadian politics. (Subscriber exclusive on Saturdays) By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again 'Keep going. Keep going. Don't give up.' Poilievre points to the more than 8 million Canadians who supported him and the Conservatives in the recent election. 'The countless young people who showed up at rallies in tears because their lives are falling apart. Who want to start families but can't get out of their parents' basement or who can't get a job because the job market is flooded with low-paid temporary foreign workers. 'The middle-class families who literally work non-stop and can't pay their bills. These people put their faith in me and I have to fight for them. I have to deliver for them.' What does the Conservative leader say to those critics who say he has to change his tone or soften his image or water down his convictions? 'We won the debate on all the issues. We won the debate by submission. They submitted. They tapped out on the issues,' he says, speaking of Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberals. 'It's not me saying we won the debate. It's the Liberals who admit we won the debate.' 'First they said Poilievre has no policies. Then they said he's got policies but they're terrifying, they're so wild and extreme. Then they said we agree with Poilievre on everything. 'They can do that all in one sentence. It's incredible.' He lists wins on the carbon tax, housing, crime, immigration, inflation, drugs, natural resources. 'On every single one of those issues we were proven right. I get a laugh out of it when people say we have to change our policies. If our policies were so unpopular the Liberals wouldn't be clamoring to pretend they agree with them.' Now Carney is in charge. What is the difference between him and former prime minister Justin Trudeau? Poilievre thinks for a minute.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poilievre reaches out to Ontario premier after Conservative election loss
Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, are known to have a frosty relationship. Sources tell CBC News the federal leader is now reaching out to the premier for talks. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press, Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press - image credit) Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's team has reached out to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's office to arrange a call between the two, an apparent bid to ease tensions after Poilievre's party lost the federal election. The move follows weeks of conflict within Canada's conservative movement, including public criticism from Ford. "I think he's asked everyone across the country for a meeting. I have no problem with that. And I'd be more than happy to talk to anyone and work with anyone. That's just what we do," said Ford on Wednesday. The frosty relationship between Ontario Progressive Conservatives and the federal Conservatives was on display throughout the campaign, culminating in an accusation from the Ontario premier last Wednesday in a news conference in Brampton, Ont. "Last time I checked, Pierre Poilievre never came out in our election. As a matter of fact, him, or one of his lieutenants, told every one of his members, don't you dare go out and help the PCs. Isn't that ironic?" said Ford. When asked to account for the disconnect between the two leaders, Ford said last week that "all they have to do is make a phone call." Ford is one of two Progressive Conservative premiers who have taken issue with Poilievre and his team in recent weeks. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston confirmed tensions between his office and Poilievre's senior adviser, Jenni Byrne, in a news conference last week. "I think after four consecutive losses to the Liberal Party, I think it's time for them to do some soul-searching," said Houston. He said the federal Conservatives have been "great at pushing people away and not so good at pulling people in." A spokesperson for Houston's office, Catherine Klimek, said he has not yet received any post-election correspondence from Poilievre's office. Houston is currently on a trade mission in Spain. Poilievre's outreach comes as he met with the Conservative caucus on Tuesday, where sources say he spoke at length. Two caucus sources said he appeared humbled in his remarks. Earlier that morning, Poilievre spoke to reporters for the first time since election night — and since news broke that he lost in his own Ottawa-area riding. He defended the campaign his party ran, but indicated some changes would be coming. "We have to enlarge our team, grow our support, build on our caucus strengths," he said to reporters on Parliament Hill. Poilievre seeks to keep the Conservative leadership and appears to have the support of caucus. He plans to run in an Alberta byelection which is on track to happen this summer. While Poilievre is outside of the House of Commons, former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer will be taking on the role of interim leader of the Opposition. Neither the Conservative Party nor the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition responded to a request for comment.
