A Tumultuous Election Night for the Conservatives
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre Faces Widespread Unpopularity - Even Among Fellow Conservative Premiers - Raising Questions About His Future Leadership
By Robin V. Sears, Guest Columnist
Robin V. Sears is a political strategist, previously working for the NDP for two decades. He has also served as an advisor to businesses and governments on three continents. Currently, he is a freelance columnist for the Star. You can find him on Twitter at @robinvsears.
This election night was a watershed moment for the Conservatives, marked by dissent, disappointment, and disunity. Many esteemed candidates lost their seats while Liberal leader Mark Carney emerged victorious. The Conservatives gained numerous votes and new MPs, yet they still fell short of winning.
The individual most infuriated by the results undoubtedly is their leader, Pierre Poilievre, who lost his own riding. His gracious, if inevitable, resignation was soon overshadowed by Poilievre's decision to remain as leader, potentially forcing one of his MPs to relinquish their seat.
The motive behind this controversial move appears clear: Poilievre intends to hound and harass Carney with the same vitriol and spite he hurled at Justin Trudeau in the past. His aim is to destabilize Carney's minority government, hoping to position himself for a rematch. However, this chaotic strategy could be detrimental to his party and Canada as a whole.
At a critical juncture when the federal government faces a significant adversary, Poilievre's parliamentary tactics are poised to exacerbate the situation. Such unrest would undoubtedly serve as valuable ammunition for U.S. President Donald Trump, a master at sowing discord among enemies. Trump could potentially capitalize on this chaos to weaken Canada's position in our ongoing struggle.
One imaginable scenario envisions Poilievre bringing Parliament to a standstill during a crucial counterattack against Trump. The potential implications for Canada's chances of winning this fight would be grim.
The Conservative Party has a clear message: elect a new leader. A defeated leader like Poilievre, disliked by two elected Tory premiers, cannot maintain party unity. Premier Doug Ford of Ontario, who governs a substantial province, sent a positive message to Carney within hours of his election. However, the deeper division lies between Poilievre and Ford.
Ford harbors open contempt for Poilievre and worked against him during the election, albeit unsuccessfully in Ontario. As a result, Ontario Conservatives are likely to grow evermore disgruntled with their federal leader. Historically, Premier Bill Davis successfully collaborated with Liberal leader Pierre Trudeau, despite their personal differences, to avoid public confrontation with Joe Clark.
In addition to the friction between Poilievre and Ford, there's Poilievre’s personal unpopularity or his "fundamental unlikeability" as Ford’s campaign manager, Kory Teneycke, observed. With a substantial gap between him and Carney regarding who would lead the nation, it's apparent that Canadians were unwilling to assume the risk of placing Poilievere at the helm at such a precarious moment. His defeat in his own riding underscores the burden he presents for the Conservatives.
His new caucus holds the power to oust Poilievre as leader. Kudos to those Conservative MPs who supported Michael Chong's reforms aimed at bolstering accountability. In contrast, Liberal MPs have no control over their leader's fate, as the drawn-out, painful decline of Justin Trudeau revealed.
The Conservatives boast several promising candidates to lead the party, all likely to initiate outreach efforts in the near future. An attractive new leader, particularly a big city, likable MP, could make for a more compelling offer to Carney as he grapples with the reality of his leadership.
We may witness a united front facing Trump with one voice, led by a prime minister in harmony with opposition leaders and the majority of premiers, or we may see Poilievre and Danielle Smith partnering with Trump as his preferred negotiators, shattering Canadian unity.
While minority governments rarely persist for more than two years, there's some consolation in knowing we may return to a more balanced Parliament soon. And, with Trump's inevitable defeat in the upcoming midterms, perhaps we can all catch our breath again.
Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data, and events. For more insights on the strategic and ideological rifts within Canadian conservatism that influenced the 2025 election, click here.
- Robin V. Sears, a political strategist and freelance columnist, opines that the Conservatives' election night was tumultuous, marked by dissent, disappointment, and disunity.
- Many esteemed candidates lost their seats while the Liberal leader, Mark Carney, emerged victorious, leaving Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader, visibly disgruntled.
- Poilievre, who lost his own riding, has decided to remain as Conservative leader, potentially causing division within his party and destabilizing Carney's minority government.
- Poilievre's strategy to harass Carney could prove detrimental to Canada, especially in light of the significant adversary facing the federal government, U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Premier Doug Ford, who governs a substantial province, has sent a positive message to Carney, but he harbors open contempt for Poilievre and worked against him during the election.
- Ford's contempt for Poilievre, combined with Poilievre’s personal unpopularity, suggests that Canadians were unwilling to place him at the helm at such a precarious moment.
- Kudos to those Conservative MPs who supported Michael Chong's reforms aimed at bolstering accountability, as they hold the power to oust Poilievre as leader, potentially leading to a more appealing choice to lead the party and face Trump.
