Finally! I have been waiting for the story behind the rift. I hope Pierre reaches out to Ford. Conservatives need to work together to get Canada back on track.
Brian, thanks. This should form part of the core of a book about how conservative politics in Canada needs to change if there is any hope of forming a Conservative government again at the federal level.
If there isn't any such hope, I have little hope for the future of Canada as a whole. Carney's Liberals, uncontested for a decade or two, will slowly mire Canada in problems characteristic of failing states: clumsy censorship, assaults on free speech, law enforcement that is unrelated to public safety, a failing economy propped up by propaganda... one could go on but why bother? We will live it all.
Hear hear! I was going to comment similar but you picked the right words. The only thing I would add is that after reading this post and the comments - I believe Pierre Poilievre needs to step aside ASAP. It’s a forgone conclusion that PM Mark Carney and the Liberals will have a majority for at least the next 3 years. The Conservative Party should use the time to carefully pick a new leader, and build the relationships needed to at least have some chance at governing again in Canada.
I agree with your overall contention but believe that Poilievre should NOT be dumped ASAP. He got the support of a huge majority at the Convention (and yes, that may have included the support of the near-future defectors to the Liberals). So let's slow down a bit.
First, the Conservatives are facing a very difficult situation. Carney's government, enamored of the EU, will veer increasingly toward authoritarianism, including sandbagging the Opposition. Comfy Canadians (retired boomers and all the people whose income comes from government, one way or another) will cautiously approve.
Under these circumstances, it is a GOOD thing if people of poor character defect. It will be hard enough without turncoats. Once the Party is sure how many MPs cannot be bought, it needs a strategy to build grassroots support over the next three years, despite the challenge of public support for authoritarian Liberal rule.
The first step is to define Conservative so that it does NOT mean Liberal Lite. For example, why DO Conservatives think that a counselor or dad who wants to protect a kid from the publicly funded trans cult in the schools should face jail time? Didn't they all vote for it? And how does that look now? Shouldn't they rather be promising to do whatever they can to erase the cult from children's lives before more kids are "transitioned" out of their health and body parts?
I don't know if Conservative politics can ever catch on in Canada again. But I am sure that Liberal Lite is simply a waste of time, energy, and money. And, as for Poilievre, let's see how he fares once a serious internal discussion starts about rediscovering actual conservativism. Maybe he will make any needed decisions himself.
None of that will matter. Carney and associates, in conjunction with the CCP will veto elections. No need with one party in power. And a strategic new world order in progress.
The conservatives have to be fully united. They need to present a detailed plan with policies benefitting Canadians with inherent values to represent a solid path forward. The economy and investments in the industries we want to retain and develop have to be their priority. Trade has to be carefully scrutinised with security and likeminded “strategies” top of mind.
We all know the immigration policies have to be brought back to the interest of growing Canada intelligently. Back to our roots. Integration has to be organically treated, not “force fed”.
The most important elephant in the room, is the fully embedded foreign interference nationally.
No registry for foreign entries exists. Unheard of. Coercion is rampant. Our entire system is “directed” by outside sources. Finance, real estate, businesses, corporation, judicial system, security and law enforcement and governments on all three levels.
How do the Conservatives manage to reverse the deteriorating management of Canada.
How quickly Canada has fallen in an unprecedented timeframe.
The comments are right though. The Conservatives need strong, economically savvy, “untouchable” leadership.
Thanks, Brian, for setting the record straight, hoping Pierre reads this and as part of his reinvention reaches out to every Conservative Leader across Canada to make a concerted effort to present a unified front to Canadian voters.
This was good but could you please explain what happened with Katy Merryfield and why you think Poilievre’s leadership is in danger? He just got 87% of the caucus vote. That doesn’t seem like a leader in danger of being ousted.
And before anyone explodes over “Grok AI do your own research, I have to say it’s a remarkable rapid response intelligence resource.
So.
Reporting back in :
Grok:
“No, there were no apparent extenuating circumstances—such as a scandal, internal conflict, firing, or forced exit—leading to Katy Merrifield’s resignation from her role as Pierre Poilievre’s communications director in the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC/Opposition Leader’s Office). 
She announced her departure voluntarily via email to the Conservative caucus on Tuesday (April 8, 2026), with her last day Friday. In her own words (reported across outlets), she explained: “I put a few projects on hold when I made a decision to join the leader’s office last summer and it’s time for me to return to them.” She added that she was “proud of my contributions to the movement over the past year” and would “continue to support the leader, team and conservative movement long after I depart this role.” She even suggested her own replacements: Micah Green as the new communications director and Sam Lilly as media relations director. 
Background and context
Merrifield (42) joined Poilievre’s office in fall 2025, shortly after the CPC’s narrow loss to Mark Carney’s Liberals in the 2025 federal election (a “heartbreaking” result despite the party receiving more votes than any prior Conservative leader). She replaced Ben Woodfinden (who had resigned post-election) and was widely viewed inside the caucus as one of the key “agents of change” alongside campaign manager Steve Outhouse. Her role involved shifting Poilievre’s communications approach: moving beyond a strict focus on social media and slogans toward more mainstream/legacy media interviews (e.g., Global News, CBC, CTV, Peter Mansbridge’s podcast, Joe Rogan), policy speeches, a Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner appearance, and a more polished public image (e.g., suits over T-shirts). Caucus members praised her highly for these efforts in “difficult circumstances,” calling her “incredibly talented,” “relentlessly dedicated,” and a “huge asset.” 
Her departure appears to be standard high-level political staff turnover after she completed a defined post-election repositioning stint (roughly 6–8 months). There are no reports of controversy, health issues, or pushback from Poilievre’s team.
Timing and speculation
The resignation coincided with other CPC challenges, including long-time MP Marilyn Gladu crossing the floor to the Liberals (described in some coverage as the latest in a string of defections). This has fueled online speculation (e.g., on Reddit, X/Twitter, and social media) that the party is “imploding” or that Poilievre is in trouble. However, mainstream reporting treats the resignation as separate and personal—not linked to those events or any broader crisis. No credible sources suggest it was anything other than her choice. 
In short, this reads as a voluntary move by a respected operative returning to personal “passion projects” after successfully helping reshape the party’s communications during a tough post-election period. If new details emerge, they would likely surface quickly in Canadian political coverage, but nothing indicates hidden drama as of now.”
So the Ford Poilievre rift is because poilivere didn’t answer his voicemail ?
Children.
It brings to mind the comments of some of my well respected friends who are much smarter than I.
“All politicians are crooks”
I’m more interested in the Merrifield “less than stellar circumstances “ you speak of. I’ll chat with Grok.
Gladlu is an unfortunate and cautionary tale, of her evident amoral character, and how it’s clearly shared by Carney and his band of political engineers.
Fords ridiculous pantomimes over tariffs are peurile.
I can’t find any comparable behaviour from Poilievre, so I’m forced to conclude the unanswered Ford phone call is just a sad reflection on both individuals.
Several years ago, a dear friend of mine ran for a council seat in a local municipal election, a summer village where one of the most important issues appeared to be driving their snowmobiles down main street, to head to the bar on Saturday night. When the election was over and the new Mayor and his cohorts on the council were done, a coup took place, the instigator of the coup misjudged the loyalty of his drinking buddy councillors, and my friend ended up as Mayor. After several months in the position, he shared his thoughts, one of which, the number of favours required just to get Councillors to back his beach clean-up program was so complicated, he wondered how any leader of a country could get anything done. He assumed they would also have to repay many favours to get to that position.
I bring up this story just to make clear the difficulty of becoming leader of a small village, never mind leader of a country.
There are so many smoke and mirror games afoot, that I find it very difficult at times to really care anymore, because who is real and who is not.
This essay has increased my respect for Mr. Poilievre because it appears to me he has integrity. He is simply not willing to build up layer after layer of owed favours to get the position when it is convenient.
Perhaps Canadians, politicians, back scratchers and others, need to graduate from the kindergarten playground.
He’s a business man first and foremost. Money speaks. He needs support for Ontario and its failing economy. Much the same as the rest of Canada. Maybe he should cozy up to Quebec leadership? They seem to be getting financial support and liberal recognition.
Premier Ford finally has the Liberal Federal Majority for which he yearns. I am happy for him, he was indispensable in making it happen.
If Conservatives just wanted to win, they should have voted for Jean Charest at the convention.
Nothing would change, of course. Our Government would be indistinguishable from the NDP/Trudeau/Carney/Liberal disaster we have been bequeathed, and Canadians would still be suffering, while our economy and our standards continue their long decay.
It appears apparent, also highlighted in your expose, that Conservatives have difficulty finding the need to cooperate among themselves, long enough to get elected. Individual conservatives, the popular press, and the Liberal machine (to their benefit) blame the leader when the real problem, it appears to me, is the inability to accept philosophical differences long enough to get the Canadian public to see them as united. Literally, if the Canadian public cannot see the results of 11 years of Liberal rhetorical announcements followed by little other than large expenditures of tax money, then there is little hope for anything but more of the same. We started 2015 with 300 promises that sounded positively inspiring for Canadians but in 2026, few, if any, have been fulfilled. Indeed, it appears rather than using the Liberal playbook the Liberal PMO has rewritten the Conservative one and is now using that rhetoric to provide empty slogans resulting in no action. Governments need to be held accountable for what they accomplish not what they promise and in the case of the current government there is little.
Pollievre, being a fairly young and unseasoned politician, (even though being somewhat mentored by Harper) has a long road ahead. He needs to rely on his own instincts more. I agree that the “campaign managing” was less than stellar. I believe his podcasts and international meetings are helping the conservative/Pollievre cause though.
Internally, the conservatives are fractured. In my opinion.
As is Canada. It will take a miracle to overcome the Carney momentum (although questionable) and the unwavering support of the CCP strategic investments and interference.
It’s likely that there may not be any imminent political elections in the near or possibly distant future. Remember, we all have to suffer through this “generational transition” and Carney will have to lead trustworthy Canadians through these difficult years ahead…to complete his new world order.
It will be a monumental task for Pollievre or any opposition leader to tackle. If at all we will have a choice, given Carney’s admiration of China’s dictatorship and current partnership agreements.
Finally! I have been waiting for the story behind the rift. I hope Pierre reaches out to Ford. Conservatives need to work together to get Canada back on track.
Very interesting article Brian! Thanks for this. A lot of information I was not aware of.
Teneycke I find to be the worse of the group, very spiteful and very harmful for the election. He embarrassed me as a Conservative.
Brian, thanks. This should form part of the core of a book about how conservative politics in Canada needs to change if there is any hope of forming a Conservative government again at the federal level.
If there isn't any such hope, I have little hope for the future of Canada as a whole. Carney's Liberals, uncontested for a decade or two, will slowly mire Canada in problems characteristic of failing states: clumsy censorship, assaults on free speech, law enforcement that is unrelated to public safety, a failing economy propped up by propaganda... one could go on but why bother? We will live it all.
Agreed on all counts! Unfortunately.
Hear hear! I was going to comment similar but you picked the right words. The only thing I would add is that after reading this post and the comments - I believe Pierre Poilievre needs to step aside ASAP. It’s a forgone conclusion that PM Mark Carney and the Liberals will have a majority for at least the next 3 years. The Conservative Party should use the time to carefully pick a new leader, and build the relationships needed to at least have some chance at governing again in Canada.
I agree with your overall contention but believe that Poilievre should NOT be dumped ASAP. He got the support of a huge majority at the Convention (and yes, that may have included the support of the near-future defectors to the Liberals). So let's slow down a bit.
First, the Conservatives are facing a very difficult situation. Carney's government, enamored of the EU, will veer increasingly toward authoritarianism, including sandbagging the Opposition. Comfy Canadians (retired boomers and all the people whose income comes from government, one way or another) will cautiously approve.
Under these circumstances, it is a GOOD thing if people of poor character defect. It will be hard enough without turncoats. Once the Party is sure how many MPs cannot be bought, it needs a strategy to build grassroots support over the next three years, despite the challenge of public support for authoritarian Liberal rule.
The first step is to define Conservative so that it does NOT mean Liberal Lite. For example, why DO Conservatives think that a counselor or dad who wants to protect a kid from the publicly funded trans cult in the schools should face jail time? Didn't they all vote for it? And how does that look now? Shouldn't they rather be promising to do whatever they can to erase the cult from children's lives before more kids are "transitioned" out of their health and body parts?
I don't know if Conservative politics can ever catch on in Canada again. But I am sure that Liberal Lite is simply a waste of time, energy, and money. And, as for Poilievre, let's see how he fares once a serious internal discussion starts about rediscovering actual conservativism. Maybe he will make any needed decisions himself.
None of that will matter. Carney and associates, in conjunction with the CCP will veto elections. No need with one party in power. And a strategic new world order in progress.
The conservatives have to be fully united. They need to present a detailed plan with policies benefitting Canadians with inherent values to represent a solid path forward. The economy and investments in the industries we want to retain and develop have to be their priority. Trade has to be carefully scrutinised with security and likeminded “strategies” top of mind.
We all know the immigration policies have to be brought back to the interest of growing Canada intelligently. Back to our roots. Integration has to be organically treated, not “force fed”.
The most important elephant in the room, is the fully embedded foreign interference nationally.
No registry for foreign entries exists. Unheard of. Coercion is rampant. Our entire system is “directed” by outside sources. Finance, real estate, businesses, corporation, judicial system, security and law enforcement and governments on all three levels.
How do the Conservatives manage to reverse the deteriorating management of Canada.
How quickly Canada has fallen in an unprecedented timeframe.
The comments are right though. The Conservatives need strong, economically savvy, “untouchable” leadership.
To judge from the response, Brian is going to have to write that book. I will buy one for sure.
Thanks, Brian, for setting the record straight, hoping Pierre reads this and as part of his reinvention reaches out to every Conservative Leader across Canada to make a concerted effort to present a unified front to Canadian voters.
This was good but could you please explain what happened with Katy Merryfield and why you think Poilievre’s leadership is in danger? He just got 87% of the caucus vote. That doesn’t seem like a leader in danger of being ousted.
And before anyone explodes over “Grok AI do your own research, I have to say it’s a remarkable rapid response intelligence resource.
So.
Reporting back in :
Grok:
“No, there were no apparent extenuating circumstances—such as a scandal, internal conflict, firing, or forced exit—leading to Katy Merrifield’s resignation from her role as Pierre Poilievre’s communications director in the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC/Opposition Leader’s Office). 
She announced her departure voluntarily via email to the Conservative caucus on Tuesday (April 8, 2026), with her last day Friday. In her own words (reported across outlets), she explained: “I put a few projects on hold when I made a decision to join the leader’s office last summer and it’s time for me to return to them.” She added that she was “proud of my contributions to the movement over the past year” and would “continue to support the leader, team and conservative movement long after I depart this role.” She even suggested her own replacements: Micah Green as the new communications director and Sam Lilly as media relations director. 
Background and context
Merrifield (42) joined Poilievre’s office in fall 2025, shortly after the CPC’s narrow loss to Mark Carney’s Liberals in the 2025 federal election (a “heartbreaking” result despite the party receiving more votes than any prior Conservative leader). She replaced Ben Woodfinden (who had resigned post-election) and was widely viewed inside the caucus as one of the key “agents of change” alongside campaign manager Steve Outhouse. Her role involved shifting Poilievre’s communications approach: moving beyond a strict focus on social media and slogans toward more mainstream/legacy media interviews (e.g., Global News, CBC, CTV, Peter Mansbridge’s podcast, Joe Rogan), policy speeches, a Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner appearance, and a more polished public image (e.g., suits over T-shirts). Caucus members praised her highly for these efforts in “difficult circumstances,” calling her “incredibly talented,” “relentlessly dedicated,” and a “huge asset.” 
Her departure appears to be standard high-level political staff turnover after she completed a defined post-election repositioning stint (roughly 6–8 months). There are no reports of controversy, health issues, or pushback from Poilievre’s team.
Timing and speculation
The resignation coincided with other CPC challenges, including long-time MP Marilyn Gladu crossing the floor to the Liberals (described in some coverage as the latest in a string of defections). This has fueled online speculation (e.g., on Reddit, X/Twitter, and social media) that the party is “imploding” or that Poilievre is in trouble. However, mainstream reporting treats the resignation as separate and personal—not linked to those events or any broader crisis. No credible sources suggest it was anything other than her choice. 
In short, this reads as a voluntary move by a respected operative returning to personal “passion projects” after successfully helping reshape the party’s communications during a tough post-election period. If new details emerge, they would likely surface quickly in Canadian political coverage, but nothing indicates hidden drama as of now.”
No
Updates on this file.
So the Ford Poilievre rift is because poilivere didn’t answer his voicemail ?
Children.
It brings to mind the comments of some of my well respected friends who are much smarter than I.
“All politicians are crooks”
I’m more interested in the Merrifield “less than stellar circumstances “ you speak of. I’ll chat with Grok.
Gladlu is an unfortunate and cautionary tale, of her evident amoral character, and how it’s clearly shared by Carney and his band of political engineers.
Fords ridiculous pantomimes over tariffs are peurile.
I can’t find any comparable behaviour from Poilievre, so I’m forced to conclude the unanswered Ford phone call is just a sad reflection on both individuals.
Your Brampton Brown analysis is sobering. Three seats ?
Several years ago, a dear friend of mine ran for a council seat in a local municipal election, a summer village where one of the most important issues appeared to be driving their snowmobiles down main street, to head to the bar on Saturday night. When the election was over and the new Mayor and his cohorts on the council were done, a coup took place, the instigator of the coup misjudged the loyalty of his drinking buddy councillors, and my friend ended up as Mayor. After several months in the position, he shared his thoughts, one of which, the number of favours required just to get Councillors to back his beach clean-up program was so complicated, he wondered how any leader of a country could get anything done. He assumed they would also have to repay many favours to get to that position.
I bring up this story just to make clear the difficulty of becoming leader of a small village, never mind leader of a country.
There are so many smoke and mirror games afoot, that I find it very difficult at times to really care anymore, because who is real and who is not.
This essay has increased my respect for Mr. Poilievre because it appears to me he has integrity. He is simply not willing to build up layer after layer of owed favours to get the position when it is convenient.
Perhaps Canadians, politicians, back scratchers and others, need to graduate from the kindergarten playground.
Sometimes you have to be the bigger man something Ford doesn't want to do.
He’s a business man first and foremost. Money speaks. He needs support for Ontario and its failing economy. Much the same as the rest of Canada. Maybe he should cozy up to Quebec leadership? They seem to be getting financial support and liberal recognition.
Great article. Excellent Canadian journalism.
Premier Ford finally has the Liberal Federal Majority for which he yearns. I am happy for him, he was indispensable in making it happen.
If Conservatives just wanted to win, they should have voted for Jean Charest at the convention.
Nothing would change, of course. Our Government would be indistinguishable from the NDP/Trudeau/Carney/Liberal disaster we have been bequeathed, and Canadians would still be suffering, while our economy and our standards continue their long decay.
It appears apparent, also highlighted in your expose, that Conservatives have difficulty finding the need to cooperate among themselves, long enough to get elected. Individual conservatives, the popular press, and the Liberal machine (to their benefit) blame the leader when the real problem, it appears to me, is the inability to accept philosophical differences long enough to get the Canadian public to see them as united. Literally, if the Canadian public cannot see the results of 11 years of Liberal rhetorical announcements followed by little other than large expenditures of tax money, then there is little hope for anything but more of the same. We started 2015 with 300 promises that sounded positively inspiring for Canadians but in 2026, few, if any, have been fulfilled. Indeed, it appears rather than using the Liberal playbook the Liberal PMO has rewritten the Conservative one and is now using that rhetoric to provide empty slogans resulting in no action. Governments need to be held accountable for what they accomplish not what they promise and in the case of the current government there is little.
Agreed on all points. Are we just too complacent…or dependant.
We conservatives are very good at missed opportunities.
Pragmatic as always Brian.
Politics is never a one man show.
Cheers.
Pollievre, being a fairly young and unseasoned politician, (even though being somewhat mentored by Harper) has a long road ahead. He needs to rely on his own instincts more. I agree that the “campaign managing” was less than stellar. I believe his podcasts and international meetings are helping the conservative/Pollievre cause though.
Internally, the conservatives are fractured. In my opinion.
As is Canada. It will take a miracle to overcome the Carney momentum (although questionable) and the unwavering support of the CCP strategic investments and interference.
It’s likely that there may not be any imminent political elections in the near or possibly distant future. Remember, we all have to suffer through this “generational transition” and Carney will have to lead trustworthy Canadians through these difficult years ahead…to complete his new world order.
It will be a monumental task for Pollievre or any opposition leader to tackle. If at all we will have a choice, given Carney’s admiration of China’s dictatorship and current partnership agreements.
This is why we can’t win. We are too busy “eating our own young” and running purity tests. SAD.