The buzz in Conservative circles this week is not about Pierre Poilievre. Instead, it revolves around the possibility of a new leader, as the current Conservative Party of Canada leader delivered a lackluster speech at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Ottawa on Thursday.
Poilievre's address was described as a perfectly acceptable Opposition leader's speech, but it was modestly delivered and modestly received. The problem, according to observers, was that it sounded like a reheated version of his speeches from last year's election campaign, in which he was rejected by voters who saw him as too chippy and too negative.
In his speech, Poilievre criticized the Carney government as ineffective, though he acknowledged that Prime Minister Mark Carney is "not quite as nauseating" as his predecessor. He spoke of powerful interests fighting to stay in power, a club of Liberal elites dominating the town, and the need to resist changing himself to join the club. While some in the audience appreciated the rhetoric, a growing number of Conservatives want their leader to present a more dignified face as a prime minister in waiting.
Growing Discontent Among Conservatives
A recent Angus Reid Institute poll revealed that three in 10 party members want someone else to lead them into the next election, concluding that Poilievre is incapable of consistently presenting as a prime minister in waiting. Poilievre recently experimented with a more temperate public persona, but those close to him say he became frustrated when there was no immediate uptick in the polls.
Most party insiders expect Poilievre to remain in his job, despite April's disastrous by-election results that saw the Conservatives lose an average of 12 percentage points compared to the last election. A similar dip in the next vote could see more than 50 members of the current caucus lose their seats.
Lack of Alternatives
The quiescence of Tory MPs is largely due to a lack of alternatives. No one in the caucus appears ready to challenge Poilievre, and former party grandees have all demurred. Former Alberta premier and federal Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney is the most widely touted as a potential leader, but a source close to him said that is unlikely, as he is enjoying private life after 25 years in electoral politics.
As the Conservative Party grapples with its future, the search for a viable alternative continues, but for now, Poilievre remains at the helm.
