Poilievre's Trump Problem

Federal Conservatives in Canada, with the exception of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, have consistently misread the mood in Canada. While the U.S. has made increasingly bold and bizarre threats to annex Canada and impose 25% tariffs on all Canadians; the Conservative Party has struggled to read the room. The United States is acting like a strategic adversary to Canada. It’s a tough situation for federal Conservatives, but not entirely surprising given their internal challenges.

At the heart of the issue is the influence of some Conservative volunteers and strategists who seem more at ease donning MAGA hats than truly understanding the pulse of Canadian values. Too often, they rely on micro issue polls to gauge public sentiment, but polls can't fully capture the deeper emotional currents that drive Canadians. Many Conservative voters, in particular, seem more drawn to Trump-style, Florida-inspired Republicanism than to what’s truly best for Canada or Canada’s conservative movement.

Just recently, former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper felt compelled to step in, calling out his own party’s leadership for not standing up for Canada. Harper pointed out Trump doesn’t sound like an ally, friend, or partner to Canada. Poilievre's Trump problem is always in the shadows - the Conservative party’s current leadership and influencers continued to push the narrative that Canada is broken and that Canadians, along with our government, are somehow complicit in the darker aspirations of the American far-right movement.

So, in the midst of all this, what’s changed? With the U.S. threatening the very existence of Canada as a nation, Prime Minister Trudeau, realizing the growing damage to his party that he was creating by remaining as leader, made the surprising move to announce his resignation - though whether he was pushed or chose to step down remains unclear.

Enter Mark Carney, former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. As a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party, Carney has shown a steady, competent, and reassuring presence, complete with a sense of humor and a natural charisma that resonates with many Canadians. Polls across the country confirm that Canadians are comfortable with him, and more importantly, the Liberal Party’s brand is finding new strength in the wake of this national crisis, forced on us by the United States.

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess which party will secure the most seats in Canada’s Parliament, but one thing is certain: the Liberals are ready to step up and challenge the Conservatives across the country. In times of crisis, Canadians often return to the party they know best - Canada’s Natural Governing Party has traditionally governed in times of crisis. And for the Conservatives, it might be time to retire the MAGA hats once and for all, and reconsider the approach, as many Canadians view the current direction of Conservatives with discomfort, even distaste.