Pierre Poilievre sails through leadership review as Conservatives deliver a strong endorsement | CBC news | John Paul Tasker:
January 31, 2026 - "Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pulled in an overwhelming share of the vote in his leadership review held Friday night, a sign that the vast majority of party members are united behind his leadership. Roughly 87 per cent of the delegates on hand in Calgary for the party's convention voted to stick with Poilievre ... higher than what former prime minister Stephen Harper achieved at his own leadership review back in 2005.... A result less than the 84 per cent Harper won at that review [c]ould have prompted questions about Poilievre's viability. But with such a strong showing, there can be no doubt about how Conservatives feel about his job at the top.
"Steve Outhouse, Poilievre's new campaign manager, told CBC News that the result is better than some Conservatives had expected and that it sends a strong signal about the direction of the party. 'That's a really clear mandate from our membership, and now we can focus on getting ready for the election, whenever that will be,' Outhouse said. "It's a big boost to his leadership. It's very gratifying'....
"'I didn't think anybody would beat Stephen Harper,' former deputy leader Lisa Raitt said of Poilievre's favourable vote share. 'He has an iron grip on the party.'"
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-poilievre-leadership-review-9.7069573
Pierre Poilievre aces leadership review: Why the Conservatives opted to stand by their man | The Conversation | Sam Foutley:
February 1, 2026 - "Much of the criticism levelled against Poilievre by Conservatives proved fleeting, an emotional response to loss rather than a durable movement to replace him. Instead, it reflected a familiar post-election pattern: disappointment amplified by punditry and frustration.... Although the Conservatives failed to form government, they ... increased their vote share [and] expanded their support to new voter constituencies.... With the largest share of the popular vote for any Conservative party in Canada since 1988, the only thing that stood between the party and governing was a few percentage points....
"Replacing Poilievre would have required the party to gamble that a new leader could quickly unify the coalition, define themselves nationally and outperform an already familiar figure in Carney — all without the benefit of incumbency or clear front-runner status. Compounding this, of course, was the absence of a clear successor....
"Carney’s electoral success depended heavily on the collapse of the NDP vote and the broader political disruption caused by Trump’s threats to annex Canada. With a new NDP leader, the New Democrats could recover and cut into Liberal margins. Meanwhile, the government’s more mixed response to issues such as pipeline development, housing and the cost-of-living crisis could push enough voters toward the Conservatives by the next federal election campaign.
"All this said, however, Poilievre’s support cannot be explained solely by institutional inertia or a lack of alternative leadership candidates. His leadership has and continues to generate genuine enthusiasm among some voters — especially those who are young, recently immigrated or working in trades. This support is fuelled by economic frustration, declining living standards and the sense of a lost promise....
"Poilievre’s Conservative Party has remained cohesive and even expanded by organizing around what former communications director Ben Woodfinden calls the 'locked-out:' voters who feel shut out of prosperity amid weak growth and chronic productivity problems. In this context, Poilievre’s orthodox centre-right agenda — cutting regulatory burdens, boosting competition and removing interprovincial trade barriers — continues to attract broad, cross-class support that transcends cultural and regional divides.... By endorsing Poilievre so decisively, Conservatives signalled their belief that he remains on an upward trajectory. The leadership review was less about absolution than affirmation: a collective judgment that the party is closer to power with Poilievre than without him."
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