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Poll after poll shows career politician Pierre Poilever and his Conservative Party easily winning Canada’s next federal election, which by law must be held by Oct. 20 and could be earlier. .
Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilever addresses a press conference. (Photo: Reuters)
Liberal leader and Justin Trudeau’s successor as Prime Minister of Canada will soon face a tough election against a sharp-tongued populist riding a wave of anti-Trudeau sentiment.
Poll after poll shows career politician Pierre Poilever and his Conservative Party easily winning Canada’s next federal election, which by law must be held by Oct. 20 and could be earlier. is
Poilievre, 45, takes the Conservative leadership in 2022, framing himself as a champion of ordinary people fighting a perceived elite, drawing comparisons to US President-elect Donald Trump.
An Angus Reid poll published Friday, before Trudeau announced his intention to step down when his party finds a new leader, found Poilievre no better than any of the other contenders for Liberal leader. will defeat
Observers said Poilievre owed much to his fast-paced communication style, voter fatigue with Trudeau and frustration with inflation. He was kicked out of the House of Commons in April for calling Trudeau a “wacko.”
“Pierre Poilever has really tapped into Canadians’ frustrations over affordability,” said Jamie Allerton, principal of the public relations firm Conaptus and a former Conservative staffer.
“There is clearly a desire for change.”
While he has offered few detailed policies, Poilievre has resorted to three-word slogans like “axe the tax,” referring to Trudeau’s unpopular carbon price aimed at reducing emissions. Some already receive exemptions, or even for industry, but have said they will offer a different plan to slow climate change.
A spokesman for Poilievre did not respond to requests for comment.
Poilievre’s timing helps: Trudeau’s government has been in power for nine years.
University of Toronto politics professor emeritus Nelson Wiseman said the average shelf life of prime ministers has been a decade.
Trump, speaking Monday before Trudeau announced his plans to resign, said he looked forward to working with Poilievre if he wins Canada’s next election.
“It would be great. Certainly our views would be more aligned,” Trump said on the Hugh Hewitt radio show.
Nevertheless, Trump said on Tuesday that he could use “economic power” to make Canada a US state. Both Trudeau and Polivore said on social media that it would never happen.
A convoy of trucks
Poilievre gained prominence in 2022 by expressing sympathy for the truck convoys protesting the vaccine mandate and the government. Like Trump, he often criticizes the media.
But their interests diverge, as Trump has threatened sweeping tariffs that would destroy Canada’s economy, which relies on exports to the United States.
“In some respects, (Poilievre) won’t be that different from Trudeau on the trade files, just because the issues are the same, the goals are the same,” said Adam Harms, associate professor of politics at Western University.
The Conservatives would prefer to fight against Trudeau in the election given his unpopularity.
Harms said Trudeau’s resignation is a problem for the Conservatives. But “he’s still going to win the next election. It’s going to take some kind of black swan event for him not to.”
Anticipating Trudeau’s departure, the Conservatives have widened their attacks on the Liberal Party, with potential leadership candidate Mark Carney, a former Bank of Canada governor, “the carbon tax Carney,” Harms said.
Carney said Monday he is considering a leadership bid.
Even without Trudeau, the Conservatives have momentum, Weisman said.
“Poilievre can sleep now, and he’s going to get a big majority.”
Simple conservative slogans like “build homes” can be more difficult to follow, Harms said.
“It will be interesting to see how much people like Pierre Poilever for his own sake,” said Jim Farney, a professor at the University of Regina.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed. Reuters)
