Federal political dynamics with Poilievre as opposition leader

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Less than a month after the leadership of Conservative Pierre Polivre, the Liberal Party introduced policy changes and new programs including measures to help end pandemic border restrictions and raise the cost of living. And Poilievre credits some of them.

“After constant pressure from Conservatives and people across Canada, Trudeau-Liberals have finally withdrawn their disastrous ArriveCAN app, unscientific vaccine mandates and mandatory mask-wearing,” Polivre said. He made a statement on social media on September 26.

The Liberals deny their policies are driven by fear of new competition, but the dynamics of the House of Representatives already appear to be changing with Polivre as opposition leader. He is known for his impassioned dealings with the Liberal Party and campaigns focused on the issue of making a living during times of economic uncertainty.

The first interaction in the House of Commons between Poirivre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 22 Get hundreds of thousands of views onlinePolivre asked whether Trudeau would cancel a planned tax increase given the challenges to the cost of living.

“The Liberal Party leader has an opportunity to respect the fact that in Canada it is not a luxury to heat your home in January and February. And that does not make those Canadians polluters. We’re just trying to survive,” Polivre said. “This is from the Prime Minister who burned more jet fuel in his month than the average 20 Canadians burn in his year. Stop it, do you want to abolish the tax increase?”

Prime Minister Trudeau took up Mr. Poirivre’s support for a “volatile cryptocurrency” and said it was misdirected, saying the government would “respond to the challenges facing Canadians with meaningful measures, direct and We are focused on real support,” he added.

When Prime Minister Trudeau asked Polivre if he supported the government’s measures, Polivre replied that he did not support tax increases. On September 27, he introduced a motion to repeal liberal plans to raise the carbon tax.

Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, said it’s too early to know what Polivre’s mark on party and federal politics means, but tangible changes are already happening. ing.

“Before there was no leader, now there is a leader, so there is no question that the party is different. Candice Bergen was just a placeholder. I have. [and wasn’t yet] Undermined by his own caucuses and party,” Weisman said.

“But there is no doubt that Poylievre is a truly formidable threat to liberals.”

Also an open question is what the presence of the high-profile Polivre means for the other parties.

Marco Navarro Genie, president of the Haltain Institute, a think tank, said support for the Liberal Party was “peeling away from both sides” and the Conservatives would benefit even if some of that support went to the NDP. wax.

“Two scenarios. 1, [it] It is nothing but a fierce battle between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. I think it is highly possible. And the second is where the NDP picks up a good chunk of the crumbling support for Trudeau, similar to when the NDP basically ate the Liberals’ lunch when Jack Layton’s popularity rose. “

As for Brock Quebec, Scott Edward Bennett, a professor of political science at Carleton University, said Quebecers are currently so busy with state elections that they may not be paying much attention to developments at the federal level. said to be sexual.

“Once the provincial elections are over, Quebec will recalculate federal support. It’s an old game in that part of the country,” he told the Epoch Times.

But there are other changes taking place in Quebec that could affect the federal government, Navarro-Genie said, noting growing support for Quebec’s Conservative Party. And Wiseman agrees.

“Quebecers know their voters and if they think Canada will vote Conservative, many of them would rather have someone at the cabinet table than not.” said Weisman.

Lee Harding

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Lee Harding is a Saskatchewan-based journalist, think tank researcher, and contributor to The Epoch Times.

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