Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre should not step down, argues Carson Jerema in a National Post column, despite internal party dissent. The criticisms against Poilievre are contradictory: some say he is too aggressive, others not enough; some claim he is too Liberal, others not enough. Yet under Poilievre, the Conservatives won a higher popular vote percentage in the last election than any conservative party since 1988, and he has energized younger Canadians—a rare feat in Western politics.
The Carney challenge and floor-crossing opportunity
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s unconventional strategy to secure a majority—enticing Conservative MPs to cross the floor or accept Senate appointments—could reflect poorly on Poilievre’s leadership, but Jerema sees it as an opportunity. It has removed uncommitted MPs and given the Opposition time to craft a campaign to topple the Carney Liberals. However, Poilievre has yet to develop an effective approach to opposing Carney, appearing aimless compared to his energetic battles against former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau-era problems persist under Carney
Jerema argues that the same problems plaguing Canada under Trudeau remain under Carney: high taxes, a government environmentalist agenda strangling economic growth, unaffordable housing, and rising grocery costs. While Carney has referred a pipeline to the Major Projects Office, Jerema notes that requiring prime ministerial approval for private infrastructure projects is symptomatic of deeper issues. The pipeline remains subject to resource-blocking environmental regulations. No major infrastructure project has been approved since Carney took office, and the economy flirts with recession. Instead of securing a U.S. trade deal, Carney leads the “resistance” against President Donald Trump.
Jerema concludes that Poilievre must refocus on these persistent problems to defeat Carney, rather than succumbing to internal party divisions.
