Polls predict that Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre could become Canada’s next prime minister. Yet an aura of mystery still hangs over him, even though he has been in the House of Commons for 20 years. The Journal travelled to his home province of Alberta, to his rural riding of Ottawa, and spoke to many former collaborators in an attempt to unravel the Poilievre enigma.
Pierre Poilievre’s populist style, marked by slogans and personal attacks, infuriates his political opponents who feel that the Albertan is playing a game.
“He doesn’t take politics seriously, for him, it’s a game,” says Franco-Albertan Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault.
New Democrat Alexandre Boulerice also sees it as a form of theatre.
“I had to face him in the House [des communes] when he was a Conservative minister, on workers’ rights, pushing back retirement to 67 or cuts for veterans. He is extremely fierce, incisive and has a tendency to cut corners. Then afterwards, you pass him in the corridor and he is relaxed and friendly, as if it had all been a game. […] “He just wants to win and prove he’s right,” he describes.
Ben Pelosse / GoM
“But it has real consequences in people’s lives,” laments the Montreal MP.
«[Poilievre] is very good at making attacks, slogans, but it cannot govern if there is no solution.”
Disconnected
For Alexandre Boulerice, Pierre Poilievre resembles much more the elites they denounce than the middle class.
“The guy never had any other job than on Parliament Hill,” he said, recalling with a laugh speeches in which Poilievre talked about electricians who capture lightning to light bulbs or welders who work with their bare hands.
He adds that his team is made up of lobbyists, the same ones they denounce in Ottawa.
Hidden intentions?
Both the Liberals and the New Democrats are brandishing the scarecrow of hidden intentions to cast doubt on the Conservative leader’s positions in favour of abortion and gay marriage.
“These MPs speak for him,” says Minister Boissonnault, who says he fears for young trans people if Pierre Poilievre comes to power.
Franco-Albertan Randy Boissonnault has been the Liberal MP for Edmonton since 2015. He is also Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MATHIS DENIS
He also highlights the absence of conservatives at various Pride events and the presence of certain MPs at anti-choice demonstrations, for example.
For its part, the Bloc Québécois declined our request for an interview.
