Latest news with #JenniByrne
CBC
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Will Poilievre's tone shift impact his byelection, leadership review?
Sources tell CBC News Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is tweaking his message and tone ahead of next month's byelection where he will attempt a return to the House of Commons. The Power & Politics panel of party insiders discusses whether those changes will be enough to secure a seat — and Poilievre's leadership — if Jenni Byrne stays on as his chief adviser.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Despite calls for change, Poilievre's campaign manager keeps an advisory role, firm on party payroll
OTTAWA — As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faces calls to make changes following his April election loss, the manager who ran that campaign remains an advisor, but is taking a less visible role, at least for now. Jenni Byrne's future with the party has been a source of discussion among MPs and other Conservative supporters, frustrated by the party's loss to Prime Minister Mark Carney and decisions made by the campaign in a race that became defined by which leader Canadians trusted to go toe-to-toe with U.S. President Donald Trump. Parting ways with Byrne, a longtime Conservative organizer who ran the party's 2025 campaign, is something that has been conveyed to Poilievre, according to several sources who spoke to National Post. So far, Poilievre has shown no sign of being willing to do so, telling reporters before his first post-campaign caucus meeting back in April that, 'excluding is never the way to broaden a team,' even as some MPs and insiders pointed fingers at Byrne for operational and internal decisions they felt were mistakes. He conveyed the same sentiment to the caucus. Since the election, confusion has swirled as to whether Byrne, who worked as a top advisor to Poilievre since his 2022 leadership campaign, would remain in her role. She was not present around Parliament Hill before the House of Commons broke for summer and was absent from certain internal calls and meetings, including a recent national council meeting when members discussed the upcoming leadership review, which is set to take place in Calgary in January. A Conservative source, who spoke on a not-for-attribution basis because they were not authorized to discuss these matters publicly, said the lack of clarity around Byrne's role in the party has been creating tensions amongst caucus members, party members — and even big party donors who are wondering if their generous donations are being used to pay for Byrne's services. However, the Conservative party confirmed on Tuesday that Byrne has not gone anywhere. 'Jenni Byrne is still an advisor to the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre,' Sarah Fischer said in a brief statement, adding that she remains the leader's proxy at national council meetings. A spokesperson for Byrne's lobbying firm, Jenni Byrne + Associates, also confirmed that it remains a contractor for the party. 'The arrangement with the Conservative Party of Canada was always through JB+A — never personally with Jenni. This was the case before the election and continues to be the case post-election,' said the spokesperson, who declined to provide their name because they do not usually comment about their clients. Byrne did not respond to a request for comment on why the contract she has with the party is with her firm and not directly with her. Two sources close to Byrne's thinking said she is still working in an advisory capacity with the party and with Poilievre but has been spending more time in Toronto and dedicating more hours to her lobbying firm ever since the Conservatives lost the election. 'There's nothing to announce because nothing's really changed,' said one of them, who added there is currently 'no bad blood' with either Poilievre or his wife Anaida, who campaigned with her husband daily and has taken an active role within the party. Sources told National Post that Byrne is spending time on more focused issues, such as Poilievre's upcoming byelection in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, set for Aug.18, as well as his upcoming leadership review. That review will be a crucial test for Poilievre, who will be the first Conservative leader to undergo such a review, given that his two predecessors either stepped down or were ousted by caucus before having the opportunity to do so. One Conservative MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called for Byrne to be removed, pointing to widespread dissatisfaction over how the party handled the nomination of its candidates, with dozens disqualified from running and others appointed last-minute in ridings across Ontario. The MP said there is an expectation that Poilievre demonstrates that he has changed, particularly when it comes to his tone and approach. While no formal election review has been triggered, Poilievre has been making calls, including to conservative and right-wing influencers, and speaking with candidates and MPs about what they want done, according to sources. Among the concerns expressed about the campaign have been the lack of visibility of candidates who ran for the party. Some Conservative insiders have noted that since the race, efforts have not gone unnoticed to give some of the newest Conservative MPs speaking time in the House of Commons. Poilievre himself also recently gave his first English interview to CBC, the public broadcaster he has vowed to cut public funding. At least two sources also expressed caution about parting ways with Byrne, given her skills as an organizer and the larger issue that Poilievre has, which is to demonstrate change and present himself as an alternative to Carney. Public opinion polls suggest Carney is enjoying a high level of support among Canadians and advancing Conservative-friendly ideas, such as getting major infrastructure projects built, such as pipelines. On Monday, National Post asked Poilievre if he was considering any changes to his team or his approach since the election. He said 'every election comes with lessons' and proceeded to explain how he needs to reach even more Canadians with his message. 'Our mission is to give people back control of their lives, to make this a country where anyone who works hard gets a good life and that homes are affordable, streets are safe, immigration works for Canada first. Those are going to be the things we focus on,' he said. 'At the same time, we have to ask how we can reach more people with that message. We ended up getting a tremendous result… but 41 per cent might not be enough in the future. So, we have to ask how we can expand even beyond that number,' he said. Poilievre added: 'We also need to present ourselves as a government in waiting so that when the time comes, Canadians can feel confident in choosing us to lead the country forward.' National Post staylor@ calevesque@ Poilievre says Carney lied about conflicts after ethics disclosure reveals investment portfolio Alberta separatists slam Poilievre for declaring himself a 'Canadian patriot' opposed to secession Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here.
Calgary Herald
7 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Despite calls for change, Poilievre's campaign manager keeps an advisory role, firm on party payroll
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jenni Byrne makes her way to a Procedure and House Affairs committee meeting Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Ottawa. Photo by Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faces calls to make changes following his April election loss, the manager who ran that campaign remains an advisor, but is taking a less visible role, at least for now. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. 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 Jenni Byrne's future with the party has been a source of discussion among MPs and other Conservative supporters, frustrated by the party's loss to Prime Minister Mark Carney and decisions made by the campaign in a race that became defined by which leader Canadians trusted to go toe-to-toe with U.S. President Donald Trump. Parting ways with Byrne, a longtime Conservative organizer who ran the party's 2025 campaign, is something that has been conveyed to Poilievre, according to several sources who spoke to National Post. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again So far, Poilievre has shown no sign of being willing to do so, telling reporters before his first post-campaign caucus meeting back in April that, 'e xcluding is never the way to broaden a team,' even as some MPs and insiders pointed fingers at Byrne for operational and internal decisions they felt were mistakes. He conveyed the same sentiment to the caucus. Since the election, confusion has swirled as to whether Byrne, who worked as a top advisor to Poilievre since his 2022 leadership campaign, would remain in her role. She was not present around Parliament Hill before the House of Commons broke for summer and was absent from certain internal calls and meetings, including a recent national council meeting when members discussed the upcoming leadership review, which is set to take place in Calgary in January. A Conservative source, who spoke on a not-for-attribution basis because they were not authorized to discuss these matters publicly, said the lack of clarity around Byrne's role in the party has been creating tensions amongst caucus members, party members — and even big party donors who are wondering if their generous donations are being used to pay for Byrne's services. However, the Conservative party confirmed on Tuesday that Byrne has not gone anywhere. 'Jenni Byrne is still an advisor to the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre,' Sarah Fischer said in a brief statement, adding that she remains the leader's proxy at national council meetings. A spokesperson for Byrne's lobbying firm, Jenni Byrne + Associates, also confirmed that it remains a contractor for the party. 'The arrangement with the Conservative Party of Canada was always through JB+A — never personally with Jenni. This was the case before the election and continues to be the case post-election,' said the spokesperson, who declined to provide their name because they do not usually comment about their clients. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Byrne did not respond to a request for comment on why the contract she has with the party is with her firm and not directly with her. Two sources close to Byrne's thinking said she is still working in an advisory capacity with the party and with Poilievre but has been spending more time in Toronto and dedicating more hours to her lobbying firm ever since the Conservatives lost the election. 'There's nothing to announce because nothing's really changed,' said one of them, who added there is currently 'no bad blood' with either Poilievre or his wife Anaida, who campaigned with her husband daily and has taken an active role within the party. Sources told National Post that Byrne is spending time on more focused issues, such as Poilievre's upcoming byelection in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, set for Aug.18, as well as his upcoming leadership review. That review will be a crucial test for Poilievre, who will be the first Conservative leader to undergo such a review, given that his two predecessors either stepped down or were ousted by caucus before having the opportunity to do so. One Conservative MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called for Byrne to be removed, pointing to widespread dissatisfaction over how the party handled the nomination of its candidates, with dozens disqualified from running and others appointed last-minute in ridings across Ontario. The MP said there is an expectation that Poilievre demonstrates that he has changed, particularly when it comes to his tone and approach. While no formal election review has been triggered, Poilievre has been making calls, including to conservative and right-wing influencers, and speaking with candidates and MPs about what they want done, according to sources. Among the concerns expressed about the campaign have been the lack of visibility of candidates who ran for the party. Some Conservative insiders have noted that since the race, efforts have not gone unnoticed to give some of the newest Conservative MPs speaking time in the House of Commons. Poilievre himself also recently gave his first English interview to CBC, the public broadcaster he has vowed to cut public funding. At least two sources also expressed caution about parting ways with Byrne, given her skills as an organizer and the larger issue that Poilievre has, which is to demonstrate change and present himself as an alternative to Carney. Public opinion polls suggest Carney is enjoying a high level of support among Canadians and advancing Conservative-friendly ideas, such as getting major infrastructure projects built, such as pipelines. On Monday, National Post asked Poilievre if he was considering any changes to his team or his approach since the election. He said 'every election comes with lessons' and proceeded to explain how he needs to reach even more Canadians with his message. 'Our mission is to give people back control of their lives, to make this a country where anyone who works hard gets a good life and that homes are affordable, streets are safe, immigration works for Canada first. Those are going to be the things we focus on,' he said. 'At the same time, we have to ask how we can reach more people with that message. We ended up getting a tremendous result… but 41 per cent might not be enough in the future. So, we have to ask how we can expand even beyond that number,' he said. Poilievre added: 'We also need to present ourselves as a government in waiting so that when the time comes, Canadians can feel confident in choosing us to lead the country forward.' National Post staylor@ calevesque@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here.
Edmonton Journal
7 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Despite calls for change, Poilievre's campaign manager keeps an advisory role, firm on party payroll
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jenni Byrne makes her way to a Procedure and House Affairs committee meeting Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Ottawa. Photo by Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faces calls to make changes following his April election loss, the manager who ran that campaign remains an advisor, but is taking a less visible role, at least for now. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal 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 TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal 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 Jenni Byrne's future with the party has been a source of discussion among MPs and other Conservative supporters, frustrated by the party's loss to Prime Minister Mark Carney and decisions made by the campaign in a race that became defined by which leader Canadians trusted to go toe-to-toe with U.S. President Donald Trump. Parting ways with Byrne, a longtime Conservative organizer who ran the party's 2025 campaign, is something that has been conveyed to Poilievre, according to several sources who spoke to National Post. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again So far, Poilievre has shown no sign of being willing to do so, telling reporters before his first post-campaign caucus meeting back in April that, 'e xcluding is never the way to broaden a team,' even as some MPs and insiders pointed fingers at Byrne for operational and internal decisions they felt were mistakes. He conveyed the same sentiment to the caucus. Since the election, confusion has swirled as to whether Byrne, who worked as a top advisor to Poilievre since his 2022 leadership campaign, would remain in her role. She was not present around Parliament Hill before the House of Commons broke for summer and was absent from certain internal calls and meetings, including a recent national council meeting when members discussed the upcoming leadership review, which is set to take place in Calgary in January. A Conservative source, who spoke on a not-for-attribution basis because they were not authorized to discuss these matters publicly, said the lack of clarity around Byrne's role in the party has been creating tensions amongst caucus members, party members — and even big party donors who are wondering if their generous donations are being used to pay for Byrne's services. However, the Conservative party confirmed on Tuesday that Byrne has not gone anywhere. 'Jenni Byrne is still an advisor to the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre,' Sarah Fischer said in a brief statement, adding that she remains the leader's proxy at national council meetings. A spokesperson for Byrne's lobbying firm, Jenni Byrne + Associates, also confirmed that it remains a contractor for the party. 'The arrangement with the Conservative Party of Canada was always through JB+A — never personally with Jenni. This was the case before the election and continues to be the case post-election,' said the spokesperson, who declined to provide their name because they do not usually comment about their clients. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Byrne did not respond to a request for comment on why the contract she has with the party is with her firm and not directly with her. Two sources close to Byrne's thinking said she is still working in an advisory capacity with the party and with Poilievre but has been spending more time in Toronto and dedicating more hours to her lobbying firm ever since the Conservatives lost the election. 'There's nothing to announce because nothing's really changed,' said one of them, who added there is currently 'no bad blood' with either Poilievre or his wife Anaida, who campaigned with her husband daily and has taken an active role within the party. Sources told National Post that Byrne is spending time on more focused issues, such as Poilievre's upcoming byelection in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, set for Aug.18, as well as his upcoming leadership review. That review will be a crucial test for Poilievre, who will be the first Conservative leader to undergo such a review, given that his two predecessors either stepped down or were ousted by caucus before having the opportunity to do so. One Conservative MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called for Byrne to be removed, pointing to widespread dissatisfaction over how the party handled the nomination of its candidates, with dozens disqualified from running and others appointed last-minute in ridings across Ontario. The MP said there is an expectation that Poilievre demonstrates that he has changed, particularly when it comes to his tone and approach. While no formal election review has been triggered, Poilievre has been making calls, including to conservative and right-wing influencers, and speaking with candidates and MPs about what they want done, according to sources. Among the concerns expressed about the campaign have been the lack of visibility of candidates who ran for the party. Some Conservative insiders have noted that since the race, efforts have not gone unnoticed to give some of the newest Conservative MPs speaking time in the House of Commons. Poilievre himself also recently gave his first English interview to CBC, the public broadcaster he has vowed to cut public funding. At least two sources also expressed caution about parting ways with Byrne, given her skills as an organizer and the larger issue that Poilievre has, which is to demonstrate change and present himself as an alternative to Carney. Public opinion polls suggest Carney is enjoying a high level of support among Canadians and advancing Conservative-friendly ideas, such as getting major infrastructure projects built, such as pipelines. On Monday, National Post asked Poilievre if he was considering any changes to his team or his approach since the election. He said 'every election comes with lessons' and proceeded to explain how he needs to reach even more Canadians with his message. 'Our mission is to give people back control of their lives, to make this a country where anyone who works hard gets a good life and that homes are affordable, streets are safe, immigration works for Canada first. Those are going to be the things we focus on,' he said. 'At the same time, we have to ask how we can reach more people with that message. We ended up getting a tremendous result… but 41 per cent might not be enough in the future. So, we have to ask how we can expand even beyond that number,' he said. Poilievre added: 'We also need to present ourselves as a government in waiting so that when the time comes, Canadians can feel confident in choosing us to lead the country forward.' National Post staylor@ calevesque@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here.
Globe and Mail
16-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Poilievre adviser Jenni Byrne staying on, Conservatives confirm amid speculation of ouster
Jenni Byrne, the campaign director who many blame for the Conservatives' loss in the spring election, will continue to play a role in the party, but sources say she is stepping away from the daily grind on Parliament Hill. Ms. Byrne did not personally return a request for comment from The Globe and Mail on Tuesday. But party spokesperson Sarah Fischer said Ms. Byrne remains involved. 'Jenni Byrne is still an adviser to the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre,' she said in an e-mail. But, two sources told The Globe that she is scaling back her connection to the party's work in opposition. The Globe is not naming the sources as they were not authorized by the party to discuss internal human-resources issues. Word that Ms. Byrne had been forced out spread through Ottawa political circles Tuesday, the latest round of speculation on whether Leader Pierre Poilievre will make any changes to how his party does business after an election campaign that returned yet another Liberal minority government. Ms. Byrne and Mr. Poilievre have a personal and professional relationship that goes back decades. She is sometimes referred to as the most powerful woman in Conservative politics, and she played a significant role in the previous Conservative government, led by Stephen Harper. Ms. Byrne ran Mr. Poilievre's party leadership race in 2022. In the years after that victory, she was a near-constant presence on Parliament Hill, though she never had a formal title. Opinion: New leader, or new system? The Conservatives ponder life under two-party politics She was involved in daily calls and meetings and helped direct strategy and messaging even as she was also running her own lobbying firm, Jenni Byrne and Associates, out of Toronto. Toward the end of 2024, it seemed that the Conservatives would form government in the next election, and speculation then was whether Ms. Byrne would become Mr. Poilievre's chief of staff or continue with her firm. But, the election of U.S. President Donald Trump changed the political landscape. Mr. Poilievre – and Ms. Byrne – struggled to recalibrate their party's narrative to account for the surge of Canadian nationalism amid the trade dispute with the U.S. So, though on April 28, the party won more seats and more votes than it had in 2021, it still failed to defeat the Liberals. To some within the party, that is Ms. Byrne's fault and the fact that Mr. Poilievre lost his own seat is held up as evidence of her failure. Others lay more of the blame on him, and point to Prime Minister Mark Carney's adoption of some Conservative pledges as evidence that their policy offerings weren't the issue, but their leader was. Mr. Poilievre is now running in a by-election for the Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot. No formal postmortem of the party's election campaign has been announced, but Mr. Poilievre's leadership will be up for a review by the grassroots at a convention scheduled for January. He has been asked outright in the past whether he'd fire Ms. Byrne, and has supported her. On Monday, he was asked whether anything was going to change about how he runs the party. Opinion: Can Pierre Poilievre outrun the 'yesterday's man' label? In his answer, he referred to the fact that the Conservatives won 41 per cent of the popular vote. It's a number that used to be enough to form government; the Liberals won in 2021 with just 32 per cent of the vote. The collapse of support for the NDP, however, saw the Liberals garner nearly 44 per cent in April. 'Forty-one per cent might not be enough in the future, and so we have to ask, 'How can we expand even beyond that number and reach even more Canadians with our message?,' ' Mr. Poilievre told reporters after an unrelated announcement. 'We need to present ourselves as a government in waiting.'
