Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has faced significant political challenges in recent weeks, but his position remains secure according to political observers. Despite some high-profile departures from his caucus, Poilievre continues to maintain strong support within the Conservative Party and among its base.
Recent Setbacks for the Conservative Leader
The Conservative leader experienced two notable setbacks in early November 2025. Chris d'Entremont, the party's only Nova Scotia-based MP, crossed the floor to join the Liberals on November 4. This was followed by Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux's announcement on November 6 that he will resign his seat next spring.
These developments created political headaches for Poilievre during a week when attention should have focused on the federal Liberal budget, which revealed a much higher-than-expected deficit of $78.3 billion. The timing was particularly unfortunate for the Conservative leader, drawing media attention away from what many conservatives saw as government fiscal mismanagement.
Media Reaction and Political Commentary
Left-leaning pundits and media outlets quickly seized on these developments to question Poilievre's leadership stability. CBC Radio's Front Burner Podcast asked on November 10: "Is Pierre Poilievre's leadership in trouble?" while other commentators offered similarly critical assessments.
Sharan Kaur, former deputy chief of staff to Liberal finance minister Bill Morneau, wrote on CTV News's website that the Conservative Party was experiencing "institutional decay disguised as discipline." Toronto Star columnist Susan Delacourt referenced d'Entremont's description of Poilievre's Conservatives resembling a "frat house rather than a serious political party" in her November 10 column.
These criticisms were enthusiastically received by Liberal supporters, but political reality tells a different story about the Conservative leader's actual standing.
The Reality of Poilievre's Political Position
Despite the recent challenges, Pierre Poilievre remains incredibly popular among Conservative Party members and supporters. Political analysts note that every party leader experiences difficult periods, and these recent events represent a bad week rather than a leadership crisis.
The circumstances surrounding d'Entremont's departure deserve closer examination. The longtime Conservative claimed his views were no longer "aligned" with Poilievre's political vision, specifically mentioning his identity as an Easterner and Red Tory who preferred finding solutions rather than opposing everything.
However, this reasoning appears questionable given that the Conservative caucus includes numerous moderates and Red Tories like Adam Chambers, Michael Chong, and Melissa Lantsman who continue to support Poilievre's leadership. If moderate Conservatives were genuinely discontented with Poilievre's direction, more would have followed d'Entremont's example or departed earlier.
The continued support from across the Conservative spectrum suggests that Poilievre maintains broad support within his party despite recent setbacks. His leadership appears secure as he continues to position the Conservatives as the main alternative to the governing Liberals.
