About Poilievre and his inept leadership
Two months ago, people predicted that Poilievre would win his leadership vote but actually be weakened by his experience. Now, that is proving to be the case. Stunts like flying to Europe and chatting with Joe Rogan aren't impressing his colleagues, and neither is his leadership style.
Althia Raj
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is shuffling his deck, sending Elon Musk-style letters to his shadow ministers asking them to prove their worth.
Monday’s email was referred to by one Conservative as “DOGE-like” — a reference to Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” which sent emails to U.S. federal government workers last year demanding that they list their past week’s accomplishments or resign.
This email from Poilievre’s office was met with a shrug by some, but others saw it as insulting — and further proof their leader is out of touch with his caucus.
“It’s ridiculous!” said one MP, among several granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal party affairs. “There’s a lot of malcontents.”
“Pierre has two good weeks in a year and he’s back to default mode of, ‘Prove yourself every five minutes,’” said another MP. “If you are going to do a shuffle, just do one. Don’t play this stupid game.”
The email to Conservative shadow ministers asked them to give examples of their best social media posts, media interviews, and examples of how they have public reach in their portfolios. It also asked if they were still interested in remaining in their roles.
For those who aren’t among Poilievre’s favourite few, the need to showcase media interviews they weren’t given permission to give was seen as particularly bewildering. Even those who don’t believe they’ll be shuffled were annoyed by the exercise and the message it sent.
It’s the latest expression of frustration from Poilievre’s caucus. Since January’s convention in Calgary, which was intended to settle the leadership question — Poilievre received 87.4 per cent of delegate support — the mood internally is bleak, described by several as “dispirited.”
Many Tory MPs have concluded their leader will never win, that he cannot offer an alternative proposal to the one Canadians already rejected.
“How much time and effort do you put into a leader who can’t win?” asked a third MP.
“They’ve got no strategy,” concluded another caucus member.
Conservative MPs are tired of sitting in opposition benches....
