Poilievre said Tuesday that he didn't agree with Jivani's assessment. "Canadians are legitimately upset by the unjustifiable tariffs and comments that the president has made," Poilievre told reporters on Parliament Hill. When asked if Jivani's comments might muddle the Conservative message on U.S. tariffs, Poilievre said the MP "speaks for himself, I speak for the party."
In mid-July, Pierre Poilievre was apparently feeling very glum. Sources close to the Conservative leader told the CBC that he was deliberately reducing his public appearances. He was doing some self-reflection. One confidant described him as "deflated." The idea that Poilievre-a man whose tight T-shirt chest puffing had become a campaign trademark-was hiding out in a corner like an old party balloon was indeed quite the image to contemplate.
The by-election, however, was only the first-and easiest-step on Poilievre's long road to political recovery. Pre-election polls last winter showed that while he remained a polarizing figure in Canadian politics, he nevertheless enjoyed overwhelming backing from Conservative voters. But after losing the 2025 general election to Mark Carney's Liberals-along with his own long-held seat in Carleton-Poilievre may now face his harshest critics from his own side of the aisle, and from what once seemed like an unshakable base.
Canada's rural Alberta district will hold a byelection on Monday where Pierre Poilievre seeks to win the Battle River-Crowfoot seat after losing in April's federal election.
Kemi Badenoch expressed unexpected enthusiasm for the Canadian election results, reveling in the Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre's significant defeat and personal failures at such a pivotal moment.
