Great piece and I echo your sentiments. I was one of those 100s who crossed your path this past week in Calgary convention.
It was a blow out success. As an EDA member of a battleground riding in Ontario. It was so encouraging to feel and see the unity in our party. Canada is divided but the CPC is not!
And Pierre's change in tone and messaging was surgical and inspiring. I would say even, Prime Minister-in-waiting caliber.
The CPC can unite the East and West. For those local to me join us LondonWest.ca 😀
As one of relatively few conservative msm journalists and contributors, especially from the east, I'm glad you took the opportunity to see and FEEL the enthusiasm for Pierre and the CPC, but also the alienation and disgust with the liberals and centralized AUTHORITY!
I personally am firmly in the separation camp, but we can't put all our eggs in that basket, so it's important to support the CPC until then.
Even then, the constitution needs a COMPLETE overhaul and a massive downsizing of federal bureaucracy and powers, otherwise this problem between the east and The West will continue to boil!
I think that Carney really isn't reading the room. If I was him I would put off the federal election as long as possible. If Alberta and Saskatchewan are no longer in Canada, the liberals would get their dream... they could annoint themselves kings of Canada, or what's left of it.
Sounds like a Party!! A happy conservative party. Cheering and clapping.. a high that will last for awhile.
Its very hard to see anyone that could fill Pierres shoes right now. The parts of his speech i saw he sounded great..
He a wordsmith so it would be out if character for him not to poke fun at what peopke say.. the jokes tell themselves.. he just points out the the punch lines.
He is very popular in his party , but its the other cdns that he needs to reach.
Heres hoping. Hes down to earth. What we need right now..
I’m a big fan, Brian. You get traction on MSM. For context, I put my “hat in the ring” to run as a CPC candidate for our local ED. I became a board member of the EDA, and supported the candidate in her unsuccessful run. I then saw the “dark side” of the CPC bureaucracy. I was removed from the EDA, at an arbitration hearing via Zoom. When I tried to speak in my defence, I was muted by the party apparatchik who was in charge. The EDA President openly admitted that she was a “Red Tory”. In effect, the Canadian political system is a uniparty: “fifty shades of red”. Don’t get me going on Jagmeet.
So, where am I going with this? How does PP represent Conservatives? Did he have a position on the internationally-recognized genocide in Gaza? What’s his position on financial support to Ukraine? Did he jump all over Carney, for the $25B+ of taxpayers funds the Liberals have already thrown at the most corrupt country in Europe? Has there been any accounting for where our money (and scarce military assets) have gone? How about the most recent $4.3B for military assistance and reconstruction? Who is the Economic Advisor to Ukraine? Why did Chrystia “Lebensraum” resign from a minority govt? Who was recently awarded a $4.5B reconstruction contract in Ukraine, far before the war is over? Brookfield, of course. Who is the Godfather of Freeland’s “spawn”? Is Carney (and his globalist wife) in the Epstein files? There is a connection…
So while you were being woo’d by your VIP entrance, and access to the CPC “hoi-polloi”, which journalist was holding PP accountable to his base?
To be a credible journalist, you can’t be influenced by cocktail parties and VIP access. You’ve been played. Ask the tough questions, for which Canadians deserve answers. Do better.
Sincerely,
Major Anthony Ledsham CD (retired) Decorated combat veteran, and true patriot.
Canada needs a strong Conservative government. Unfortunately Canadian Canadian continue to spin for the liberal and PM Carney. I am wondering if you are going to cover the on going debate about separation in Alberta.
There are some critical comments here, @Brian Lilley. Are you willing to engage in respectful debate, or did you throw the proverbial “grenade in the room” and run out?
Well if that is the case - why is Poilievre’s polling pretty much even with Carney’s ? Throw out Nanos, Ekos, Mainstreet and Abakus - they are all bought and paid for by the Liberals - but Léger, Angus Reid etc tend to be far less biased and strangely Poilievre is pretty much neck and neck with Carney and let’s remember - Carney is still in his first year - his honeymoon and he is coming off his Davos speech - which was a hit with the global elites and of course some Canadians who have this fantasy that Canada is a major global player. Tell me ….. how many other leaders of any other nation came out and stated publicly that they agreed with Carney ? How many have said we are with you Canada, come over here and let’s start trade talks now ? That speech is fading from view on the world stage faster than a fat chick can down a cupcake AND - in case you missed it because you probably did since it was not reported on the MSM in Canada - Ursula Van Der Leyden - the head of the E.U and Christine Legard - the E.U.‘S head of finance both publicly stated n a roundtable discussion AT DAVOS that they did not agree with Carney’s worldview and they strongly disagreed with his term that their is a “ rupture” in the world order. Now I have bad news for you Liberal Canada - the EU is an organization of 340 million people consisting of nations that are for the most part - as Carney described them- “middle powers” and without the EU his coalition of middle powers is going nowhere. I note further that Carney has yet to get a trade deal with either the EU or Britain another “ middle power” he very much needs. This is in spite of him having traveled to each at least 5 times this past year AND being the Governor of the Bank of England. One would think that that position alone would give him an edge - but so far nothing. If I were a Liberal I would be very nervous. The only reason they were elected TO A MINORITY GOVERNMENT- was due to the collapse of Jagmeet Singh and the NDP - they lost 17 seats. The NDP is trending upward and that only helps the Conservatives.
So where are your “ facts” - so far you have provided none - just some vague assumption that Conservatives are not united and that the convention did not represent the people not in the room ? Who are these people you are referring to, what percentage of the Conservatives in Canada do they represent ? You reject that 87% of the party voted to support Mr. Poilievre for the leadership and I have read that this was the highest percentage any Conservative leader has ever gotten at a leadership revue. You reject polling numbers that show he is polling favorably - even in Carney’s honeymoon year - a year when traditionally new PM’s enjoy high polling numbers while the opposition does not. As well, in case you forgot, Poilievre just came out of an election 11 months ago with the highest vote count ever for the Conservative Party, a party that he was the leader of. Once again Liberals seem to forget that they went into that election very confident that they were going to get a majority government. They like to talk about Carney’s collapse but they seem to ignore the fact that they were - once again - reduced to a minority government - AND THE ONLY REASON THEH WON THAT- was the complete collapse of Jugmeet Singh and the NDP who lost 17 seats. The Conservatives problem before Poilievre was picking weak candidates who no one knew - candidates who had to appease the ultra Conservative wing of the party. Once they received the nomination , they moved to the center and that cost them support. Poilievre has obviously been able to bridge that gap. Frankly the party that has internal squabbles are the Liberals. Guilbeault is pissed, Freeland bailed for greener pastures, today Blair left and the word is that Wilkinson is next. They have lost another seat so the floor crossing scheme failed them. Provide facts not veiled innuendo - to support this vague assumption you are trying to propagate.
I’m not rejecting the 87%. I’m contextualizing it.
Facts:
• That 87% came from a self-selected, activist subset of the party, with strong internal approval, not universal unity.
• Convention delegates are chosen, not randomly sampled, and are skewed loyal by design.
• High vote totals and leadership reviews show internal strength, not an electoral mandate. The party still failed to form government.
• The Conservatives have lost four consecutive federal elections since 2015, which is the clearest test of whether internal unity translates into power.
• Being “neck and neck” during a first-year honeymoon suggests a ceiling, not momentum.
You’re citing internal process metrics. I’m questioning whether they translate into broader electoral reach. That’s analysis, not innuendo.
Well one can look at it this way - Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole faced the same set of criteria from the party faithful when they received their nominations and O’Toole was defeated at the last leadership review the party had - also under the exact same criteria that Poilievre faced over the weekend - selected delegates. The fact that Poilievre was able to garner such an overwhelming victory to me signals that in fact the party faithful are behind him. And I will also note that under Scheer, O’Toole AND Poilievre - the Conservatives actually won the popular vote in all 3 of those elections, yet each time the Liberals eked out a minority government, thanks largely to Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the GTA. In my humble opinion the Conservatives do not need momentum so much as they need to maintain their base and I think they are doing just that as evidenced by the polls. Two other factors are at play, the fact that Carney has done diddly squat as far as trade AND the cost of living and the high taxation rate are killing the country - those issues are going to catch up with him and they will be his undoing unless he gets off his ass and actually does something other than talk. The Conservatives only need to pick up another point or two and after the NDP pick their new leader - the traditional NDP voter will return to the fold. The last election was a rebuke from the NDP faithful of Jagmeet Singh and his propping up of the Liberal government just long enough so he could gain his pension. That was a cynical move on his part and it hurt the NDP faithful dearly. So - will this election finally throw the Liberals out ? One can only hope. .
I don’t dispute that the party faithful are behind Poilievre the leadership review clearly shows that.
The unresolved issue is translation. Winning the popular vote three times without forming government isn’t bad luck; it’s a structural failure to expand beyond the base in the regions that decide elections.
Maintaining the base is necessary, but it’s not sufficient it hasn’t been since 2015. One or two points nationally only matter if they move seats in the GTA, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. So far, they haven’t.
Betting on Liberal fatigue and NDP realignment isn’t a strategy it’s a hope. Until Conservatives show durable seat gains where elections are actually won, internal unity remains just that: internal. Good luck
Im also a member of the Liberal party that was denied the chance (couldn’t validate my membership) to vote in last years supposed leadership race 🙄 Yet within an hour of Mark Carney’s “win” I received a fundraising text from Carney and the Liberals. Suggest you sit this one out.
Marie - your comment is nonsensical. First - at least proof read it before you post it. Your spelling error makes you look less credible. Secondly- there were what - around 1500 Conservative Party members at that convention ? Out of 1500 only 144 are actual MP’s and since the person Brian spoke to was not identified as an MP - we can presume with a high sense of certainty that that individual was NOT an MP. Since only MP’s can actually “ cross the floor” your assumption then becomes rather ridiculous. A disgruntled party member does not “ cross the floor” , they just resign their membership and join another party or they don’t. To be honest, with the lack of knowledge you are showing here today, I am led to believe that you are some Liberal wonk who thinks they are scoring big points in a blow for Carney. Instead - unfortunately you look rather silly as is your juvenile attempt at political sarcasm.
Wow you are a very rude person. I realize I had a spelling error but due to an arm injury I have only one hand. I hit the wrong button before I could correct. Dont judge. Brian knows me, it was a joke, im a very dedicated conservative member my entire life, big supporter. I know the rules take a chill pill.
Ohhhhh….so everyone is supposed to know that that was an inside joke ? Look - I apologize to you, sincerely. Having said that - let me say this in my defence - how many times have any of us come on here to have Liberals making snide remarks, twisting the facts, and spewing their nonsense. Your comment reeked of that and as I explained- Joe from Kingston or Fred from Vaughn or Darryl from Tilbury have no idea who you are and what your relationship to Mr. Lilley is. So - please accept my apology - it was a honest mistake.
There is no relationship and my comment didn't reek of anything, you are the only one who jumped all over it. Pick on a Liberal instead. And I'll assume you're in a mood today . 😊
I agree, the mood is being held by most of the population. It is mind blowing why they keep letting the Lieberals continue the destruction of the country. BTW you misspelled the word elected, should be selected.
Great piece and I echo your sentiments. I was one of those 100s who crossed your path this past week in Calgary convention.
It was a blow out success. As an EDA member of a battleground riding in Ontario. It was so encouraging to feel and see the unity in our party. Canada is divided but the CPC is not!
And Pierre's change in tone and messaging was surgical and inspiring. I would say even, Prime Minister-in-waiting caliber.
The CPC can unite the East and West. For those local to me join us LondonWest.ca 😀
Thanks for attending Brian!
As one of relatively few conservative msm journalists and contributors, especially from the east, I'm glad you took the opportunity to see and FEEL the enthusiasm for Pierre and the CPC, but also the alienation and disgust with the liberals and centralized AUTHORITY!
I personally am firmly in the separation camp, but we can't put all our eggs in that basket, so it's important to support the CPC until then.
Even then, the constitution needs a COMPLETE overhaul and a massive downsizing of federal bureaucracy and powers, otherwise this problem between the east and The West will continue to boil!
Anyway, great article
Sincerely
Wayne Knodel
A Lifetime Albertan
I think that Carney really isn't reading the room. If I was him I would put off the federal election as long as possible. If Alberta and Saskatchewan are no longer in Canada, the liberals would get their dream... they could annoint themselves kings of Canada, or what's left of it.
Sounds like a Party!! A happy conservative party. Cheering and clapping.. a high that will last for awhile.
Its very hard to see anyone that could fill Pierres shoes right now. The parts of his speech i saw he sounded great..
He a wordsmith so it would be out if character for him not to poke fun at what peopke say.. the jokes tell themselves.. he just points out the the punch lines.
He is very popular in his party , but its the other cdns that he needs to reach.
Heres hoping. Hes down to earth. What we need right now..
Record grassroots fundraising support all across Canada. Yet, all we hear from our “media” is that the Conservatives are divided 🤔
Unfortunately.. yes
Its a job!
I’m a big fan, Brian. You get traction on MSM. For context, I put my “hat in the ring” to run as a CPC candidate for our local ED. I became a board member of the EDA, and supported the candidate in her unsuccessful run. I then saw the “dark side” of the CPC bureaucracy. I was removed from the EDA, at an arbitration hearing via Zoom. When I tried to speak in my defence, I was muted by the party apparatchik who was in charge. The EDA President openly admitted that she was a “Red Tory”. In effect, the Canadian political system is a uniparty: “fifty shades of red”. Don’t get me going on Jagmeet.
So, where am I going with this? How does PP represent Conservatives? Did he have a position on the internationally-recognized genocide in Gaza? What’s his position on financial support to Ukraine? Did he jump all over Carney, for the $25B+ of taxpayers funds the Liberals have already thrown at the most corrupt country in Europe? Has there been any accounting for where our money (and scarce military assets) have gone? How about the most recent $4.3B for military assistance and reconstruction? Who is the Economic Advisor to Ukraine? Why did Chrystia “Lebensraum” resign from a minority govt? Who was recently awarded a $4.5B reconstruction contract in Ukraine, far before the war is over? Brookfield, of course. Who is the Godfather of Freeland’s “spawn”? Is Carney (and his globalist wife) in the Epstein files? There is a connection…
So while you were being woo’d by your VIP entrance, and access to the CPC “hoi-polloi”, which journalist was holding PP accountable to his base?
To be a credible journalist, you can’t be influenced by cocktail parties and VIP access. You’ve been played. Ask the tough questions, for which Canadians deserve answers. Do better.
Sincerely,
Major Anthony Ledsham CD (retired) Decorated combat veteran, and true patriot.
Thank you for your service. Relevant comments and questions.
Why is Leslyn Lewis one of the few to question the WHO Plandemic Treaty and the rest are quiet, including Pierre?
Sorry Tony, no genocide in Gaza. You must have gotten that information from the CBC or Hamas.
Wait a minute! I see a lot of young women in those videos. Some idiot by the name of Sheila Copps said on X there weren't any there.
Canada needs a strong Conservative government. Unfortunately Canadian Canadian continue to spin for the liberal and PM Carney. I am wondering if you are going to cover the on going debate about separation in Alberta.
I'm so glad!
It was a great convention, it was great seeing everyone.
There are some critical comments here, @Brian Lilley. Are you willing to engage in respectful debate, or did you throw the proverbial “grenade in the room” and run out?
The folks at the convention may be united, not so sure about those Conservitives not in the room.
Well if that is the case - why is Poilievre’s polling pretty much even with Carney’s ? Throw out Nanos, Ekos, Mainstreet and Abakus - they are all bought and paid for by the Liberals - but Léger, Angus Reid etc tend to be far less biased and strangely Poilievre is pretty much neck and neck with Carney and let’s remember - Carney is still in his first year - his honeymoon and he is coming off his Davos speech - which was a hit with the global elites and of course some Canadians who have this fantasy that Canada is a major global player. Tell me ….. how many other leaders of any other nation came out and stated publicly that they agreed with Carney ? How many have said we are with you Canada, come over here and let’s start trade talks now ? That speech is fading from view on the world stage faster than a fat chick can down a cupcake AND - in case you missed it because you probably did since it was not reported on the MSM in Canada - Ursula Van Der Leyden - the head of the E.U and Christine Legard - the E.U.‘S head of finance both publicly stated n a roundtable discussion AT DAVOS that they did not agree with Carney’s worldview and they strongly disagreed with his term that their is a “ rupture” in the world order. Now I have bad news for you Liberal Canada - the EU is an organization of 340 million people consisting of nations that are for the most part - as Carney described them- “middle powers” and without the EU his coalition of middle powers is going nowhere. I note further that Carney has yet to get a trade deal with either the EU or Britain another “ middle power” he very much needs. This is in spite of him having traveled to each at least 5 times this past year AND being the Governor of the Bank of England. One would think that that position alone would give him an edge - but so far nothing. If I were a Liberal I would be very nervous. The only reason they were elected TO A MINORITY GOVERNMENT- was due to the collapse of Jagmeet Singh and the NDP - they lost 17 seats. The NDP is trending upward and that only helps the Conservatives.
He doesn't need middle powers. It was a speech, that's all. He'll be groveling at Trump's feet again as soon as he has a majority.
National polling doesn’t measure party unity or convention sentiment it measures a general election horse race. Different questions, different data.
Davos speeches don’t produce public endorsements or instant trade deals, and allies disagreeing on rhetoric isn’t diplomatic failure it’s normal.
If Conservative support were truly consolidated, they wouldn’t be “neck and neck” during a first-year honeymoon.
Four federal elections since 2012 the Conservative party could have done better.
Or your spelling 😵💫
You can’t even spell Conservative, let alone maintain the audacity to think you can discuss our united Party with any veracity.
Spelling errors don’t change facts. Unity is demonstrated by evidence, not tone policing.
So where are your “ facts” - so far you have provided none - just some vague assumption that Conservatives are not united and that the convention did not represent the people not in the room ? Who are these people you are referring to, what percentage of the Conservatives in Canada do they represent ? You reject that 87% of the party voted to support Mr. Poilievre for the leadership and I have read that this was the highest percentage any Conservative leader has ever gotten at a leadership revue. You reject polling numbers that show he is polling favorably - even in Carney’s honeymoon year - a year when traditionally new PM’s enjoy high polling numbers while the opposition does not. As well, in case you forgot, Poilievre just came out of an election 11 months ago with the highest vote count ever for the Conservative Party, a party that he was the leader of. Once again Liberals seem to forget that they went into that election very confident that they were going to get a majority government. They like to talk about Carney’s collapse but they seem to ignore the fact that they were - once again - reduced to a minority government - AND THE ONLY REASON THEH WON THAT- was the complete collapse of Jugmeet Singh and the NDP who lost 17 seats. The Conservatives problem before Poilievre was picking weak candidates who no one knew - candidates who had to appease the ultra Conservative wing of the party. Once they received the nomination , they moved to the center and that cost them support. Poilievre has obviously been able to bridge that gap. Frankly the party that has internal squabbles are the Liberals. Guilbeault is pissed, Freeland bailed for greener pastures, today Blair left and the word is that Wilkinson is next. They have lost another seat so the floor crossing scheme failed them. Provide facts not veiled innuendo - to support this vague assumption you are trying to propagate.
I’m not rejecting the 87%. I’m contextualizing it.
Facts:
• That 87% came from a self-selected, activist subset of the party, with strong internal approval, not universal unity.
• Convention delegates are chosen, not randomly sampled, and are skewed loyal by design.
• High vote totals and leadership reviews show internal strength, not an electoral mandate. The party still failed to form government.
• The Conservatives have lost four consecutive federal elections since 2015, which is the clearest test of whether internal unity translates into power.
• Being “neck and neck” during a first-year honeymoon suggests a ceiling, not momentum.
You’re citing internal process metrics. I’m questioning whether they translate into broader electoral reach. That’s analysis, not innuendo.
What do you think? Fifth time lucky?
Well one can look at it this way - Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole faced the same set of criteria from the party faithful when they received their nominations and O’Toole was defeated at the last leadership review the party had - also under the exact same criteria that Poilievre faced over the weekend - selected delegates. The fact that Poilievre was able to garner such an overwhelming victory to me signals that in fact the party faithful are behind him. And I will also note that under Scheer, O’Toole AND Poilievre - the Conservatives actually won the popular vote in all 3 of those elections, yet each time the Liberals eked out a minority government, thanks largely to Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the GTA. In my humble opinion the Conservatives do not need momentum so much as they need to maintain their base and I think they are doing just that as evidenced by the polls. Two other factors are at play, the fact that Carney has done diddly squat as far as trade AND the cost of living and the high taxation rate are killing the country - those issues are going to catch up with him and they will be his undoing unless he gets off his ass and actually does something other than talk. The Conservatives only need to pick up another point or two and after the NDP pick their new leader - the traditional NDP voter will return to the fold. The last election was a rebuke from the NDP faithful of Jagmeet Singh and his propping up of the Liberal government just long enough so he could gain his pension. That was a cynical move on his part and it hurt the NDP faithful dearly. So - will this election finally throw the Liberals out ? One can only hope. .
I don’t dispute that the party faithful are behind Poilievre the leadership review clearly shows that.
The unresolved issue is translation. Winning the popular vote three times without forming government isn’t bad luck; it’s a structural failure to expand beyond the base in the regions that decide elections.
Maintaining the base is necessary, but it’s not sufficient it hasn’t been since 2015. One or two points nationally only matter if they move seats in the GTA, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. So far, they haven’t.
Betting on Liberal fatigue and NDP realignment isn’t a strategy it’s a hope. Until Conservatives show durable seat gains where elections are actually won, internal unity remains just that: internal. Good luck
Im also a member of the Liberal party that was denied the chance (couldn’t validate my membership) to vote in last years supposed leadership race 🙄 Yet within an hour of Mark Carney’s “win” I received a fundraising text from Carney and the Liberals. Suggest you sit this one out.
Did Warren the Liberal tell you to say that? 🙄
So Brian do you think the one who told you know is a potential floor crosser or just not happy
Marie - your comment is nonsensical. First - at least proof read it before you post it. Your spelling error makes you look less credible. Secondly- there were what - around 1500 Conservative Party members at that convention ? Out of 1500 only 144 are actual MP’s and since the person Brian spoke to was not identified as an MP - we can presume with a high sense of certainty that that individual was NOT an MP. Since only MP’s can actually “ cross the floor” your assumption then becomes rather ridiculous. A disgruntled party member does not “ cross the floor” , they just resign their membership and join another party or they don’t. To be honest, with the lack of knowledge you are showing here today, I am led to believe that you are some Liberal wonk who thinks they are scoring big points in a blow for Carney. Instead - unfortunately you look rather silly as is your juvenile attempt at political sarcasm.
Wow you are a very rude person. I realize I had a spelling error but due to an arm injury I have only one hand. I hit the wrong button before I could correct. Dont judge. Brian knows me, it was a joke, im a very dedicated conservative member my entire life, big supporter. I know the rules take a chill pill.
Wasn't an MP who said they wouldn't support Pierre. And I get the joke.
It was an incredibly united party convention.
Ohhhhh….so everyone is supposed to know that that was an inside joke ? Look - I apologize to you, sincerely. Having said that - let me say this in my defence - how many times have any of us come on here to have Liberals making snide remarks, twisting the facts, and spewing their nonsense. Your comment reeked of that and as I explained- Joe from Kingston or Fred from Vaughn or Darryl from Tilbury have no idea who you are and what your relationship to Mr. Lilley is. So - please accept my apology - it was a honest mistake.
There is no relationship and my comment didn't reek of anything, you are the only one who jumped all over it. Pick on a Liberal instead. And I'll assume you're in a mood today . 😊
I have been in a mood ever since my fellow countrymen elected Carney and the Liberals…..again.
I agree, the mood is being held by most of the population. It is mind blowing why they keep letting the Lieberals continue the destruction of the country. BTW you misspelled the word elected, should be selected.