After criticizing RCMP leadership on a podcast, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is facing skepticism from some party members regarding their continued support for him. Several Conservative caucus members, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed concerns that Poilievre has not sufficiently altered his messaging post the last election campaign and is not projecting an image suitable for a potential prime minister.
A total of 10 Conservative sources, including seven caucus members, were interviewed by Radio-Canada. Among them, four sources are uncertain if they will back Poilievre in an upcoming confidence vote scheduled for January, despite supporting him in the past. One source criticized Poilievre’s suggestion that a former prime minister should be jailed as “completely irresponsible.”
During a recent appearance on the YouTube channel Northern Perspective, Poilievre accused former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of breaking the law by accepting a free vacation, referencing the 2019 Aga Khan scandal, and potentially committing another offense during the SNC-Lavalin affair. He alleged that the RCMP had concealed these actions and condemned the force’s leadership for failing to hold the Liberal government accountable.
Critics within the Conservative party believe Poilievre’s remarks have damaged his prospects of becoming prime minister. Some MPs who previously supported Poilievre in the party leadership contest now feel he is fixated on Trudeau and struggling to move past his defeat in the election. These members plan to seek clarification on Poilievre’s statements at an upcoming caucus meeting in Parliament.
Despite the backlash, Poilievre continues to retain significant support within the party. His Quebec lieutenant, Pierre Paul-Hus, expressed confidence in Poilievre, emphasizing his value to the country and Quebec. Paul-Hus clarified that the attacks on the RCMP were primarily directed at former commissioner Brenda Lucki, whom he criticized for making numerous errors and following political directives.
In a statement issued by Poilievre on Monday, he reiterated that his comments targeted Lucki’s alleged history of scandals and political interference benefiting the Liberal government. While some view Poilievre’s podcast remarks as a misstep, others downplayed the incident, attributing it to human error. A source close to Poilievre highlighted the leader’s distinct political style and authenticity, crediting these traits for the party’s strong performance in the recent federal election.