OTTAWA — Pierre Poilievre left his party’s convention in Calgary with overwhelming delegate support to guide the federal Conservatives into the upcoming election. Senior party members emphasize that preparing for this contest now stands as the primary focus.
Strong Backing from Delegates
Poilievre received 87.4 percent approval from over 2,500 delegates during the three-day event, where his leadership review served as the central highlight on Friday evening. The gathering underscored the party’s unity and readiness to move forward.
Candidate Recruitment Takes Center Stage
Ian Brodie, former chief of staff to ex-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and past executive director of the party, highlights candidate recruitment as the top priority. He stresses the need for Poilievre to assemble a roster of locally and nationally credible leaders.
“This is campaign management 101,” Brodie states. “You’ve got to have the team approach about what the party brings to government, not just what Mr. Poilievre brings to government.”
Brodie notes a shift from two years prior, when the Conservatives enjoyed a 20-point lead over the Liberals and Poilievre’s personal approval ratings were higher. The previous campaign revolved heavily around his leadership, but current dynamics demand a broader strategy.
Election Timing and Polling Shifts
Prime Minister Mark Carney recently rejected ideas of calling an early election, following the Liberals’ victory in a minority government last April. However, recent polls indicate a surge in Liberal support after Carney’s Davos address, where he called on middle-power nations to counter global hegemons. This has fueled speculation among Conservative MPs that a vote could occur as early as this year.
Delegates departed the convention with confidence in Poilievre’s direction. The party also demonstrated financial strength, with fundraising efforts more than doubling under his tenure. Robert Staley, chair of the Conservative Fund Canada, informed delegates that Poilievre remains the party’s strongest fundraising draw.
“The question is, can they put together candidate selection for ridings that the party wants to pick up? That’s tough,” Brodie adds.
New Campaign Leadership and Process Reforms
Steve Outhouse, who managed successful campaigns for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in 2023 and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham last year, will lead the federal Conservatives’ next effort.
In his address, Poilievre addressed ongoing concerns from the prior election about last-minute candidate appointments in key areas like Ontario, rather than open nominations. He declared one key lesson as “the need to hold earlier and open nominations.”
Delegates responded by approving constitutional changes to strengthen local candidate nomination committees’ roles. They also mandated the national council to release a nomination schedule and conduct post-campaign reviews, sharing results with members.
Addressing Key Issues Ahead
Fred DeLorey, who oversaw the 2021 Conservative campaign, urges preparation regardless of the election date. The party should clarify its platform, building on Poilievre’s emphasis on cost-of-living and crime issues, which have driven recent gains.
DeLorey calls for direct engagement with pressing matters, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies on tariffs. “I do think there needs to be some messaging around the big issue of the day, which is Trump and tariffs,” he says.
While praising Poilievre’s consistent messaging on Canadian sovereignty and unity during the convention speech, DeLorey advises elevating the Canada-U.S. trade concerns. “This is a major geopolitical issue that many, many Canadians are obsessed by. We’re following this very closely, so he should be on that battleground,” DeLorey notes.
Poilievre’s Speech Resonates
Delegates applauded Poilievre’s convention address for its balanced tone, limiting direct named critiques of Carney while sharing personal insights. He discussed the leadership role’s impact on his family, receiving a standing ovation for recounting his autistic daughter’s first words.
Ontario Conservative MP Adam Chambers observes notable development in Poilievre’s style, including a willingness to collaborate with the Liberal government on national priorities. Yet, he maintains a firm stance on policy differences, focusing on tangible outcomes.
“That approach has shown a little bit of growth that I am supportive of and been encouraging him along the way,” Chambers remarks. “He still has that fire and that fighter mentality that I think will continue to serve him well, in addition to trying to appeal to a broader group of people.”
