OTTAWA – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on his MPs to continue to “fight for the jobs of Canadians” as some are privately expressing concerns over his polling numbers, the current electoral prospects of the party and their own seats. “My job is to continue to fight for the common people, fight for affordability, and to fight for safe streets for our country, and that’s what I will continue to do,” Poilievre said when speaking to reporters in Vancouver on Sunday as he called for the federal government to extend the pause on the federal gas tax until Canada Day 2027. Poilievre’s comments come after CTV News spoke to 17 Conservative MPs across the country who were granted anonymity to speak privately about his leadership and the party’s direction. All but two of the MPs agreed with a recent Nanos Research poll, which concluded that right now, Prime Minister Mark Carney has “no obvious challenger” within the Conservative movement. Despite some MPs expressing support, the majority shared concerns with CTV News about Poilievre’s polling numbers and their own current electoral chances with him as leader. Asked by CTV News on Sunday what he would say to MPs who are worried about losing their seats, Poilievre would not answer directly, but did say they should focus on fighting “for the lower cost of living” and the fact Carney “has broken his promises on grocery prices.” Poilievre was also asked about a Saturday column from Dan Robertson, who served as former prime minister Stephen Harper’s director of strategic communications, in which he concluded that not even Harper could win a leadership race for today’s Conservative Party. When asked about the column and what has changed within the party, Poilievre said today’s Conservatives are “the party that champions the working people of this country.” Poilievre facing challenges with the Conservatives Since losing last year’s federal election after holding a strong lead over Carney and the Liberals, Poilievre and the Conservatives have faced growing challenges. In January, Poilievre passed a big test to his leadership, receiving 87.4 per cent support in a leadership review. But since last fall, he has lost four MPs who crossed the floor to the Liberals: Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma, Matt Jeneroux and Marilyn Gladu. Two others – Larry Brock and Cathay Wagantall – have announced they are stepping down earlier than planned, while Richard Martel is headed for a Senate appointment. Martel’s Quebec riding of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord is set for a by-election on Aug.31 and political observers are watching the race closely. In last year’s federal election, the Conservatives narrowly won the riding with 34.1 per cent support, followed by 31.2 per cent for the Bloc Québécois and 31.1 per cent for the Liberals. This summer, meanwhile, Poilievre sparked some party division after calling campaign staff who worked for B.C. Conservative Party leadership candidate Caroline Elliott as “Liberal lobbyists from out east.” But on Saturday, in a show of unity, Poilievre was photographed campaigning with Elliott to support Conservative candidate Stephen Curran who is running in the North Vancouver-Capilano by-election. Poilievre has a ‘caucus problem’ Polls also continue to show Poilievre’s own popularity significantly lagging Carney’s. According to the most recent Nanos Research numbers, 53.6 per cent of Canadians view Carney as a preferred prime minister over Poilievre who sits at 18 per cent. That same poll shows the Liberals with 45.6 per cent support over the Conservatives with 29.1 per cent. The House of Commons is set to resume on Sept. 21, and multiple MPs who spoke to CTV News say the key to Poilievre retaining support in caucus will be his level of interaction with MPs once the House returns. Dimitris Soudas, who worked as Harper’s director of communications, says while Poilievre has a caucus problem, “there is no evidence yet that his opponents have the numbers to call for (a leadership) vote.” “My read on September. He returns with a confidence problem that he already has. The question now becomes whether this confidence problem becomes organized,” Soudas said. Former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore, meanwhile, says Poilievre has the “right to lead the party” but “with that come some caveats.” “He has to sustain growth in the party. He has to sustain fundraising advantage. He has to sustain a sense of caucus unity and policy development. He has to sustain a level of public opinion support,” Moore said. Moore also says the Conservatives have time on their side. “It’s understandable that some people might get frustrated at where the party is right now,” Moore said. “But my view is that party members and caucus members should relax, recognize that there is not going to be an election in the next month or the next three months or probably the next six or 12 or 18 months, and play the long game.” With files from CTV News’ Jeremie Charron
