OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is losing yet another top aide, with his deputy chief of staff Aaron Wudrick announcing Thursday that he is leaving for the private sector. In a letter obtained by CTV News, Wudrick told colleagues and Conservative members of Parliament that his exit would be effective Nov. 27. “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve our leader and this team for the last 2.5 years, first as director of policy and then as deputy chief of staff,” Wudrick said in the letter. His resignation follows the departures earlier this year of Poilievre’s longtime chief of staff, Ian Todd, and his then director of communications, Katy Merrifield. “I want to thank all of you for your co-operation and hard work in our shared mission to make Pierre Poilievre our next prime minister leading a Conservative government, and remain fully confident that this goal remains achievable in the next election,” Wudrick said in his letter. His exit was first reported by the Toronto Star. Wudrick joined Poilievre’s office when the Conservative leader appeared to be on the verge of forming government. Then-prime minister Justin Trudeau was deeply unpopular among the electorate and Poilievre had successfully tied the Liberal government to the affordability challenges squeezing Canadians. But in quick succession beginning in late 2024, Donald Trump was elected U.S. president, Chrystia Freeland quit Trudeau’s cabinet, Trudeau resigned, Mark Carney won the Liberal leadership and then, in a stunning upset, a minority government. Since then, Poilievre and his party have floundered in the polls. Four of his MPs have crossed the floor to join the Liberals – helping to hand Carney a majority government – and a fifth left the House of Commons to be appointed to the Senate. The Conservative leader is under renewed pressure and scrutiny as his party watches whether they can hold onto a seat vacated by Larry Brock, who resigned as an MP for the Ontario riding of Brantford—Brant South in September. The prime minister called that byelection for Dec. 7, along with votes in five other riding.
