Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Friday promised victory and change in the next federal election while addressing his party faithful to kick off the national Conservative convention in his hometown of Calgary.
Poilievre sought to rally party members moments before they were set to vote on whether he will continue on as leader and get another chance to try and topple the Liberal government.
“My message to those people who have felt unseen for too long, who are carrying the country on their back and feel underappreciated and overworked — Conservatives see you and Conservatives will fight for you,” he said to cheering supporters.
“When I become prime minister, these great Canadians will not need to ask my permission to succeed.”
Poilievre said “hope” was the theme of this weekend’s convention, where the party is preparing for the next federal election after narrowly missing the chance to form government last April.
“When you start something, you never give up,” he said. “I’ll never give up.”
Those hopeful messages came after a lengthy takedown of Prime Minister Mark Carney, who he said has not addressed the concerns of Canadians after nearly a year in power and 10 years of Liberal government.
He and Conservative MPs who spoke ahead of him argued Carney’s best ideas were taken directly from his platform.
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“We won the debate in the last election on every single one of the big issues,” he said, listing the consumer carbon tax and ideas to solve housing, infrastructure and crime.
“The best part of being Conservatives is that eventually everyone admits that we were right all along.”
Indeed, much of the promises Poilievre outlined Friday struck many of the same priorities as Carney — more energy infrastructure, accelerated homebuilding, lowering costs — but on a faster timetable with less regulation.
While Poilievre focused much of his speech on domestic priorities, he also underscored the need for “autonomy and independence” in the face of sovereignty threats on Canada and other NATO allies by U.S. President Donald Trump, although he did not mention Trump by name.
“In this dangerous and uncertain world, Canadians must stand united so we can stand on our own two feet. United and strong Canadians will bow before no nation anywhere on earth,” he said.
“We must be a nation that protects our seas, skies, and soil, without depending on the U.S. or anyone else to do it for us. … We will take back control of our North and ensure no foreign powers ever threaten our territory.”
Poilievre dipped into cultural issues while discussing his plans for expanding Canada’s military, promising members will be hired “based on merit and not political correctness.”
Addressing the brewing separatist and independence movements in Quebec and Alberta, Poilievre blamed Liberals for “stomping on” Alberta’s energy sector and Quebec’s sovereignty while sowing discontent in Canadian identity among young people.
“We can simply attack people who feel this way, or we can ask them why,” he said.
“Our message to those youth and to all of the people in Alberta and Quebec who are losing hope in our country: You will again have a country that respects your autonomy, is proud of your industries, unites us around our common identity and history, a country that will afford you the hopeful future that you have earned.”
The speech came at a critical moment for Poilievre as he seeks to unite Conservatives and chip away at Carney’s support, which polls suggest remains high.
Surveys from Leger and Abacus Data this week suggest the Liberals have increased their share of support — in particular since Carney’s trade mission to China and his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
More to come…
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