I’m a former senior aide to Stephen Harper. Pierre Poilievre is dismantling the principled, trustworthy Conservative Party we tried to build

Goddess · October 20, 2025

1 hour ago, CdnFox said:

Yay for elbows up

Elbows up for Great Leader!

taxme · October 20, 2025

On 10/18/2025 at 7:07 PM, BeaverFever said:

I’m a former senior aide to Stephen Harper. Pierre Poilievre is dismantling the principled, trustworthy Conservative Party we tried to build

By Dimitri Soudas Contributor

Dimitri Soudas is a political analyst for Radio-Canada. He was a director of communications and senior advisor under Stephen Harper and later executive director of the Conservative Party of Canada.

The Conservative Party that was shaped by the nation-building of Sir John A. Macdonald, the moral conviction of John Diefenbaker, the bold ambition of Brian Mulroney, and the steady discipline of Stephen Harper is far greater than any one man. It is a party rooted in history, principle, and purpose, a party built to serve the country, not the ego of a single leader. No individual, no matter how loud or popular, has the right to rewrite that legacy or distort it into something it was never meant to be.

Leader Pierre Poilievre is dismantling the principled, serious and credible Conservative Party Harper worked so hard to lead and bring to power, one of substance, maturity and integrity.

As a senior aide to Prime Minister Harper, I had the privilege to witness first-hand his leadership style: serious, principled, steady and deeply committed to the country’s long-term interests. He was the embodiment of what Canadians should expect from a national leader, governing with discipline, competence and a profound respect for Canada’s institutions.

He brought credibility to the Conservative movement, not through theatrics, but through thoughtful policy-making, fiscal prudence, and strategic vision. He was never swayed by short-term headlines or the chaos of the news cycle. Instead, he focused on results: balanced budgets, trade expansion, national security, and pragmatic federalism.

Harper spoke less, but when he did, it mattered. He built a unified party that reflected the broad spectrum of conservative values, from fiscal responsibility to national unity, without sacrificing seriousness or integrity. In an era of rising populism and political noise, Harper remains a reminder of what real leadership looks like: thoughtful, focused, principled, and unwavering in service to the country.

Harper was able to unite fiscal conservatives, social conservatives, progressive conservatives, libertarian conservatives, Red Tories and Blue Tories into a serious, policy-driven coalition grounded in discipline, pragmatism and national interest, a legacy now being unravelled by Poilievre’s politics of spectacle and division.

This week, Poilievre accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of committing what he described as the worst possible offence for a head of government, violating the Criminal Code and escaping justice. He claimed that Trudeau’s free vacation from the Aga Khan was a clear-cut criminal breach and that the RCMP deliberately chose not to lay charges.

Poilievre went further, declaring that Trudeau should have been criminally charged and sent to jail. He went as far as accusing the RCMP leadership of being “despicable” and actively shielding the Liberal government from prosecution.

In a rule-of-law democracy, no opposition leader should ever call for a prime minister or any political rival to be jailed. It undermines confidence in our justice system, our federal police and ultimately the Crown. That kind of rhetoric isn’t strength, it’s recklessness and it shows a leadership approach that remains rooted in grievance rather than governance.

Months after losing the federal election, Poilievre seems not to have learned the lessons of his electoral defeat.

For all the fiery slogans and viral clips, Canadians saw through the performance. What they needed was a prime minister-in-waiting. What they got was a man addicted to opposition, stuck in partisan combat, incapable of transformation and unwilling to rise above the instincts that had always held him back.

Voters wanted maturity, reassurance and vision. He gave them grievance. He ran as the angry Question Period debater, not the steady hand of a G7 nation. The result? Swing voters waited for growth that never came.

His message was reduced to punchlines. “Carbon Tax Carney” and “Sneaky Mark Carney” may have earned social media points, but it insulted the intelligence of voters craving real dialogue on housing, inflation, crime, immigration, climate and affordability. As Carney put forward a detailed, albeit debatable, vision, Poilievre delivered slogans and sneers. Canadians rightly asked: if this is how he acts in opposition, how would he behave in power?

Worst of all, Poilievre failed to build a team. A party rich with talent was never showcased. No foreign affairs lead. No visible finance minister. No credible plans for trade, immigration, or defence. It was a one-man show and when the curtain rose, there was no cast, just more spotlight on him.

The most baffling part? Trudeau’s record was wide open. Canadians were ready to hear a compelling case. But Poilievre couldn’t deliver one. He had the opportunity to prosecute a decade of Liberal failures, and instead leaned on hyperbole, exaggeration and recycled sound bites. The contrast never sharpened. The plan never appeared. He delivered none of it.

His latest comments show once again he has failed to make the leap from critic to leader.

Canadians are tired of the anger. The mockery. The volume. They need calm, confidence, and answers. Yet, despite warnings from advisers, polls, and “common sense,” he is still giving them attacks, blame and fury.

In the last election, Canadians didn’t reject conservative ideas. They rejected Pierre Poilievre.

Months later, there’s little evidence he has reflected, adapted, or grown. If anything, he seems more committed than ever to the very approach that cost him credibility with the voters he most needed to win.

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/im-a-former-senior-aide-to-stephen-harper-pierre-poilievre-is-dismantling-the-principled-trustworthy/article_7a2f717f-2e67-4e70-aa5b-5153c0cb980b.html

On the contrary. Pierre is about to change the leftwing mentality of the conservative party that has helped put Canada on the road to ruin and bankruptcy. None of the past conservative leaders did all that much to try and destroy lieberal Marxist destruction of Canada. The conservative party needs a leader like D. Trump in America is now cleaning house of Bidumbs non-democratic party communist lies and bullshit.

It would appear as though PP is the one that could save Canada if elected and start to clean house of all lieberal bullshit that has been done to Canada in the past ten years.

The last election was a fraud because PP was leading bigtime in the polls but thanks to that fraudulent election Carnage the destroyer of Canada was elected. Was Carnage even elected to hold a seat in Ottawa? It looks to me more like Carnage was plopped into parliament by his WEF globalist buddies ilk. Nice big talk but all made up of useless lies and nonsense.

The Toronto Star looks more like a communist newspaper outlet and is no real source for telling the truth. They are pro lieberal and no doubt are being cut checks by the government every month by the government, i mean the Canadian taxpayers to help keep alive their useless almost bankrupt piece of lieberal rag.

If i am not mistaken here PP appears to be the man that will change Canada for the better and finally get rid of liberal corruption and end their lying and cheating and stealing ways. Canada needs a Trump like leader. Works for me!

herbie · October 21, 2025

23 hours ago, taxme said:

Canada needs a Trump like leader.

His sheeple need just that! Can't think for themselves, they need to be TOLD what to do.

CdnFox · October 21, 2025

1 minute ago, herbie said:

His sheeple need just that! Can't think for themselves, they need to be TOLD what to do.

Says the cultist who nods his head like a bobble doll every time carney speaks

You think that because you're a cultist everyone else is too. But that's not how it works

BeaverFever · October 22, 2025

On 10/19/2025 at 8:14 PM, CdnFox said:

don't understand why you would lie.

I have not told any lies, that’s just a one the many false accusations you rely on when you have no facts.

On 10/19/2025 at 8:14 PM, CdnFox said:

He's not running in an election at all nor does he seem to be

And yet he’s ranting about a former prime minister and making spurious accusations about alleged controversies from several elections ago that Canadians don’t care about and don’t believe.

On 10/19/2025 at 8:14 PM, CdnFox said:

You mean like you did last time. We wound up giving away all of his cards early and then the liberals did a bait and switch, ran on his own platform and tricked the electorate into winning by claiming that they would be elbows up. Yeah I don't think he wants to do that again.

Also side note, I see carney canceled more tariffs today quietly behind closed doors and trump had a new ones. Yay for elbows up

Carney still has high approval ratings especially for handling the Tariffs so far. As I already pointed out, cancelling the counter-tariffs has boosted the Canadian economy. Why would he keep them if they aren’t getting results in Washington while also hurting the Canadian economy? Only a conservative would be that stupid as to keep doing things that clearly are no longer working.

On 10/19/2025 at 8:14 PM, CdnFox said:

The conservative basis expanded and is it around the neighborhood of about 38% right now. And he needs to solidify that vote and make sure that it's 100% behind him going into the leadership review. It is not enough to just get 60% or something, he needs a strong showing so that conservatives unite behind him and then he can do what he needs to do to get the rest of the mushy middle.

That’s not the base, that’s just how many decided to vote for him last time, some of them are swing voters and if he’s only going to appeal to the base while turning everyone else off he’s just going to lose more. Every day that Trudeau is gone, PP is that much more irrelevant. He better hope Doug Ford stays Premier for a long time because once that’s over he might be the new contender for PP’s job. Apparently DoFo is the most popular conservative in the country right now and PP’s team of toxic personalities decided to make enemies out of Ford’s team (they also unnecessarily made enemies with Houston’s team in Nova Scotia).

Edited October 22, 2025 by BeaverFever

CdnFox · October 22, 2025

16 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

I have not told any lies, that’s just a one the many false accusations you rely on when you have no facts.

But you did and i pointed it out.

He's not running any election at the moment and you claimed he was running on this issue. Yet when i pointed that out to you, you doubled down and insisted he was, when you know he isn't. There's no election.

16 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

And yet he’s ranting about a former prime minister and making spurious accusations about alleged controversies from several elections ago that Canadians don’t care about and don’t believe.

What do you mean "and yet"? he's not running an election at the moment. That's WHEN you would talk about that kind of stuff.

For the record i don't think he should be. I think he's right but i think it distracts from the liberals own problems at the moment and gains him nothing.

But he's still not running a campaign and in between campaigns is when you can talk about stuff that's not going to be important when the campaign rolls around.

Quote

Carney still has high approval ratings especially for handling the Tariffs so far.

And i've shown that to be a lie. His popularity is falling and in fact the cpc is polling ahead of him at the moment in voter intent.

Quote

As I already pointed out, cancelling the counter-tariffs has boosted the Canadian economy.

Nope, we're basically in a recession and our economy is now the worst in the g7 and it's not even close. No boost.

Quote

Why would he keep them if they aren’t getting results in Washington while also hurting the Canadian economy? Only a conservative would be that stupid as to keep doing things that clearly are no longer working.

They would have gotten results, but he took most of them off day one and has been reducing them ever since.

Now our auto sector is leaving.

Quote

That’s not the base,

Yeah it is. He was polling at those numbers for a year, and he's back to those numbers now. That's the percent of people who are very dedicated to him. Sorry kiddo

Quote

Every day that Trudeau is gone, PP is that much more irrelevant.

His numbers are going up, carney's is going down. Carney has failed to deliver on his OWN timeline, and people are realizing he's just justin 2,0

Quote

He better hope Doug Ford stays Premier for a long time because once that’s over he might be the new contender for PP’s job.

Only a liberal would think that

Quote

Apparently DoFo is the most popular conservative in the country right now

He's not a conservative.

Edited October 22, 2025 by CdnFox

I am Groot · October 22, 2025

On 10/19/2025 at 3:27 PM, BeaverFever said:

Canadian voters have long ago moved past these issues 2 or 3 elections ago. The fact that PP is fixating on these past issues and also now is introducing new conspiracy theories attacking the RCMP

You're acting like this was an official speech or release from the office of the leader of the opposition. He was doing an interview. The interviewer asked about it the SNC Lavalin scandal, and he responded. To paraphrase, "Yeah, that was a fake investigation. They didn't even interview him. The RCMP covered for him. The guy ought to be in jail for interfering in a prosecution like that (which is, in fact, illegal).

Edited October 22, 2025 by I am Groot

I am Groot · October 22, 2025

On 10/19/2025 at 4:02 PM, herbie said:

He mimics Donnie Doughbrain every day. Now it's speeched against DEI

As I've pointed out before, all Trump does is address longstanding grievances the political class has studiously ignored. That's the only reason he's in power. Because the political class ignores the will of the people for only so long before the people say "F you all!" and bring in the populist. Same thing is happening in the UK now.

DEI, as much as you adore official racism, has pissed off a lot of people for a long time. And it's been getting worse, more blatant. There are ads pointed out every day, mostly for public sector jobs, which are quite clearly racist in nature and would horrify the likes of you if the wording were reversed to demand only white people apply, or make it clear that 'no blacks wanted'.

The way the Left, which is always claiming to be 'for the people,' continues to be utterly baffled by human behaviour is a fascinating thing. It's been quite clear for a century now. The whole Communist/Marxist/Socialist belief systems are predicated on ignorance of human behaviour.

On 10/19/2025 at 4:02 PM, herbie said:

wanting to make the RCMP go after political 'enemies' that are now history,

He answered a question about the SNC Lavalin affair, agreed it was a fake investigation, and said Trudeau ought to have gone to jail for that (which is certainly arguable). It wasn't a vow to 'get him' if he's elected, simply because he doesn't like him.

I am Groot · October 22, 2025

8 hours ago, BeaverFever said:

Carney still has high approval ratings especially for handling the Tariffs so far. As I already pointed out, cancelling the counter-tariffs has boosted the Canadian economy. Why would he keep them if they aren’t getting results in Washington while also hurting the Canadian economy? Only a conservative would be that stupid as to keep doing things that clearly are no longer working.

It's really been illustrative of the bias of the mainstream media to watch them enthusiastically embrace his 'Elbows up!' talk during the election, then instantly turn around and congratulate and flatter him for his 'We love Trump!' attitude the instant he was elected.

They went from "Carney is going to take on that stinking, horrible Trump! He won't let us get pushed around! He'll show that evil creature who the boss is! He'll stand up for Canada!" to "What a brilliant man to realize the need to flatter and submit to Trump! There's no way we can possibly stand up to the Americans on trade."

And the sheeple of the Left have gone right along with them. Carney helped incite a whole new level of anti-Americanism during his election campaign, then went down south, kissed the ring, and told Trump on numerous occasions what a wise and brilliant man he was. And the liberal left just accepts it!

I'd love to be in an alternate world where Poilevre got elected, took the exact same position with the exact same words after the election, and see you guys fume and fulminate and shake your angry little fists at him for being a suckholing surrender monkey. Because I have absolutely NO doubt that would be your attitude.

Edited October 22, 2025 by I am Groot

herbie · October 22, 2025

5 hours ago, I am Groot said:

He answered a question about the SNC Lavalin affair, <claimed> it was a fake investigation, and said Trudeau ought to have gone to jail for that (which is certainly arguable). It wasn't a vow to 'get him' if he's elected, simply because he doesn't like him.

FTFY
Claimed.
And B if there had been a charge, that would've been a Judge's decision not his or yours.

You just pointed out exactly my point, just like Trump dementia he can't remember WHO he ran against, still thinks that's who is opponent is now and tries to paint them as corrupt without the evidence from law enforcement.
And enjoying the disctraction from his inability to actually contribute anything positive towards current issues.

Thank you for making my point for me.,

Edited October 22, 2025 by herbie

Venandi · October 22, 2025

6 hours ago, I am Groot said:

He answered a question about the SNC Lavalin affair, agreed it was a fake investigation, and said Trudeau ought to have gone to jail for that (which is certainly arguable).

I think it was too, none of the construction bribe details ever made sense to me...Libya is the land of bribes and that's just the nature of the place.

There were two SNC security operators in country during OUP Libya while the Canadian Forces were engaged in combat operations and the Gaddafi family were under UN mandated travel restrictions.

Here's a story from 2012 that scrapes the surface of what I mean, this got very little traction back then and hasn't been talked about since as far as I know.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/gary-peters-snc-lavalin

Given OUP operations and the travel restrictions, I think there's lots more to this story than meets the eye and SNC is up to their eyeballs in it... the government knows it (and always knew it) too.

All of the machinations we've seen were a function of those illegal (borderline treasonous) activities... not bribes to build parking lots.

All IMO of course.

Edited October 22, 2025 by Venandi

taxme · October 22, 2025

On 10/21/2025 at 11:27 AM, herbie said:

His sheeple need just that! Can't think for themselves, they need to be TOLD what to do.

Yup, sounds and looks just like you alright, comrade. When your dear communist leader in Ottawa speaks, you are all ears and enjoy listening to his Stalinist lies and bullshit. Up yours, comrade. 😂🤣

16 hours ago, BeaverFever said:

I have not told any lies, that’s just a one the many false accusations you rely on when you have no facts.

And yet he’s ranting about a former prime minister and making spurious accusations about alleged controversies from several elections ago that Canadians don’t care about and don’t believe.

Carney still has high approval ratings especially for handling the Tariffs so far. As I already pointed out, cancelling the counter-tariffs has boosted the Canadian economy. Why would he keep them if they aren’t getting results in Washington while also hurting the Canadian economy? Only a conservative would be that stupid as to keep doing things that clearly are no longer working.

That’s not the base, that’s just how many decided to vote for him last time, some of them are swing voters and if he’s only going to appeal to the base while turning everyone else off he’s just going to lose more. Every day that Trudeau is gone, PP is that much more irrelevant. He better hope Doug Ford stays Premier for a long time because once that’s over he might be the new contender for PP’s job. Apparently DoFo is the most popular conservative in the country right now and PP’s team of toxic personalities decided to make enemies out of Ford’s team (they also unnecessarily made enemies with Houston’s team in Nova Scotia).

Conservative are leaders. Lieberal are just followers. If you had a mind and could think for yourself it would be a bloody miracle, comrade. 🤪

I am Groot · October 22, 2025

1 hour ago, herbie said:

FTFY
Claimed.
And B if there had been a charge, that would've been a Judge's decision not his or yours.

If there had been a real investigation, they would have interviewed the principal subject - Trudeau.

But they did not.

WestCanMan · October 22, 2025

On 10/18/2025 at 7:07 PM, BeaverFever said:

I’m a former senior aide to Stephen Harper. Pierre Poilievre is dismantling the principled, trustworthy Conservative Party we tried to build

By Dimitri Soudas Contributor

What a whiny, gutless loser "Dimitri Soudas" is. He can go to hell.

WestCanMan · October 22, 2025

On 10/18/2025 at 7:12 PM, BeaverFever said:

When a Harper Conservative goes after Pierre Poilievre, you know there’s blood in the water

Oct. 17, 2025 at 8:40 p.m.

By Althia RajNational Columnist

Althia Raj is a national politics columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @althiaraj

Oh yay! The Star is commenting on this lol.

You just quoted the only "news" org on the planet with less credibility than the f'ing CBC, CTV and Global.

It makes perfect sense that you'd read the Star 😂

SpankyMcFarland · October 22, 2025

…‘the leftwing mentality of the conservative party’ - yes, I read that right. Kind of sums up this forum.

SpankyMcFarland · October 22, 2025

Carney’s changing tactics against Trump get the benefit of the doubt from most Canadians at the moment because they understand our country is under grave threat from without. It’s not easy when a powerful friend suddenly turns against you. If the Tories were in charge we would have the same response to rally round the flag and trust the government to do the best it can. I really don’t think now is the time for Poilievre to go hyper-partisan. He needs to be seen to be playing with the team. There are ways to look good in opposition during a national crisis but he seems to lack the subtlety and versatility to play those roles.

Edited October 23, 2025 by SpankyMcFarland

WestCanMan · October 23, 2025

On 10/18/2025 at 7:41 PM, Goddess said:

A Rebuttal:

Via Vesper on "X"

"Your take on what Pierre said needs an update from a fellow Montreal Conservative.

Your post is a touching eulogy, Dimitris, for a Conservative Party that exists more in nostalgia than in reality. You speak of history, principle, and purpose, while scolding Pierre Poilievre for having the temerity to apply those very principles to a Prime Minister who treats the law as a suggestion box.

Let’s be clear: your argument isn’t that Poilievre is wrong on the facts. It’s that his tone is impolite. How very Canadian to suggest that pointing out a Prime Minister’s alleged criminality is a greater offence than the criminality itself.

The snivelly whiner "Dimitri", who tried to make the case that "Poilievre's tone is too impolite, and it's turning off Canadians", obviously wasn't paying attention when Trudeau spent 3 years in the HoC shrieking about the $90k from Duffygate.

Here's how big the $900M WE scandal was compared to the $90k Duffygate scandal:

$90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k

^^That^^ is how big the WE scandal was compared to the Duffygate scandal. 10,000x as much money.

CdnFox · October 23, 2025

8 hours ago, SpankyMcFarland said:

Carney’s changing tactics against Trump get the benefit of the doubt from most Canadians at the moment because they understand our country is under grave threat from without. It’s not easy when a powerful friend suddenly turns against you. If the Tories were in charge we would have the same response to rally round the flag and trust the government to do the best it can. I really don’t think now is the time for Poilievre to go hyper-partisan. He needs to be seen to be playing with the team for now. There are ways to look good in opposition during a national crisis but he seems to lack the subtlety and versatility to play those roles.

He didn't change his tactics, he just lied about what his tactics were. According to the polling more and more Canadians are pissed off about it. And he's not delivering results.

And no if we were in charge things would definitely be different.

Go back and read your post and listen to what you sound like. You're being an apologist and you know it. You have to be an apologist for your leader then something is wrong

Barquentine · October 23, 2025

On 10/19/2025 at 1:57 PM, LinkSoul60 said:

His political career has plateaued. He's simply not likeable as the election and every single poll show, and is most certainly not a person the majority of Canadian's want or will likely ever want as the face of the country.

So true. And now he has a mini-me in his deputy leader, Melissa Lantsman. Looks and talks just like him. Hope for her sake she's not learning politics from him.

Michael Hardner · October 23, 2025

55 minutes ago, Barquentine said:

So true. And now he has a mini-me in his deputy leader, Melissa Lantsman.

Really wonder what her wife thinks 🤔

WestCanMan · October 23, 2025

1 hour ago, Michael Hardner said:

Really wonder what her wife thinks 🤔

Why?

Do you wonder what Carney's wife thinks?

Carney is quickly catching up to Trudeau in terms of how universally reviled he is by Canadians. No woman wants that for her family.

No one actively hates the Lanstmans.

LinkSoul60 · October 23, 2025

3 hours ago, Barquentine said:

So true. And now he has a mini-me in his deputy leader, Melissa Lantsman. Looks and talks just like him. Hope for her sake she's not learning politics from him.

Of course she'll be just like him... That only stands to reason if she's foolish enough to align herself with him.

Listening to his comments after Carney's and Ford's presser this morning... This guy is a monumental failure as a so-called leader.

herbie · October 23, 2025

16 hours ago, WestCanMan said:

$90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k $90k

Boy thanks for proving assholiness is a virtue among 'the right'.

Here's a few palate cleansers instead:

CdnFox · October 23, 2025

2 hours ago, WestCanMan said:

Why?

Do you wonder what Carney's wife thinks?

Carney is quickly catching up to Trudeau in terms of how universally reviled he is by Canadians. No woman wants that for her family.

No one actively hates the Lanstmans.

They're scared.

When they're trying to convince us or others about how terrible it must be, or how much people hate PP, they're really trying to convince themselves.

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