Potential for the Liberal government to fall in a matter of weeks.

[Legato]

1 minute ago, CdnFox said:

Awww... made you cry again huh?  Go see if mommy will change your diapers for you again  

Moral or financial?   

Either way, the people have a point  

Both and yes.

[ExFlyer]

4 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

Awww... made you cry again huh?  Go see if mommy will change your diapers for you again  

Moral or financial?   

Either way, the people have a point  

Wow...2 LOSERS agreeing...what a surprise...NOT HA HA HA

[CdnFox]

6 minutes ago, ExFlyer said:

Wow...2 LOSERS agreeing...what a surprise...NOT HA HA HA

Sigh. It's only one loser, the other loser is just your reflection. That's a mirror

Edited November 8, 2025 by CdnFox

[WestCanMan]

It's weird that CBC isn't hoping for the Carney gov't to fail, because they're set to earn another billion taxpayer dollars if there's another election. 

This is like a Palestinian bomb-maker hoping for peace.

[ExFlyer]

32 minutes ago, WestCanMan said:

It's weird that CBC isn't hoping for the Carney gov't to fail, because they're set to earn another billion taxpayer dollars if there's another election. 

This is like a Palestinian bomb-maker hoping for peace.

Caucus in Crisis: Conservatives in Turmoil as Pierre Poilievre Poilievre Faces Growing Pressure

What began as a chance to define the budget narrative quickly spiraled into a week of internal damage control, defections, and whispered doubts about the Conservative leader’s future.

The trouble started just before Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne tabled the Mark Carney government’s first budget, a massive spending plan the Conservatives had been eager to oppose.

But within hours, headlines shifted. Long-time Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont announced he was crossing the floor to join the Liberals.

Party insiders say senior Conservatives rushed to his office in a last-minute attempt to stop him. It didn’t work. Standing beside Prime Minister Mark Carney the next day, d’Entremont said he no longer felt represented by the tone and direction of Poilievre’s leadership, and hinted that other MPs felt the same.

Resignation Adds to the Fallout

Within 48 hours, another blow hit. Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux, a four-term Conservative, suddenly announced he would resign from federal politics, citing family reasons. But his departure, coming amid rumours that he, too, had been approached by Liberals, deepened the sense of instability.

By Thursday evening, the focus in Ottawa had fully shifted: not to the budget’s numbers, but to the Conservative leader’s future.

One senior strategist described the mood bluntly:

“It’s not rebellion, but it is anxiety. A few more surprises like this, and members will start asking if he can win.”

From Attack Mode to Defence

For a party that had planned to spend budget week criticizing Liberal spending, the script flipped completely. Internal sources said the Conservatives went from “attack mode to containment mode overnight,” as senior aides scrambled to ensure no more caucus surprises before the next sitting week.

Poilievre’s leadership team insists the caucus remains “united and focused.” But privately, organizers acknowledge the pressure has intensified ahead of the mandatory leadership review next year.

Leadership Review Looms Large

Following the 2025 election, which left the Conservatives with 144 seats to the Liberals’ 169, Poilievre must face party delegates at a leadership review convention in Calgary.

Until recently, insiders believed he could secure more than 80 percent support.

Now, amid defections and uncertainty, that number is less certain.

Party organizers are now monitoring delegate selections riding by riding, an unusual level of vigilance this far out from convention season.

A Missed Opportunity

Budget week is usually a golden opportunity for the Opposition to control the message. Instead, the Conservatives spent it explaining internal turbulence while the Liberals strengthened their footing in the House, just three seats away from a majority.

Former Tory strategists now warn that the next few weeks will be crucial. If even one more MP crosses the floor, it could shift the balance of power, and possibly Poilievre’s political future.

“This was supposed to be the week they defined the budget,” one senior operative said. “Instead, it’s the week everyone started asking if Pierre can survive his own caucus.”

Your Turn

What do you think, can Poilievre hold his party together, or are the cracks showing? Drop your comment below. Keep it respectful, strong opinions welcome, personal attacks not.

[CdnFox]

46 minutes ago, WestCanMan said:

It's weird that CBC isn't hoping for the Carney gov't to fail, because they're set to earn another billion taxpayer dollars if there's another election. 

This is like a Palestinian bomb-maker hoping for peace.

Sounds like he's going to be giving them the extra money anyway doled out over each year. Their budget went up handsomely during this "Time of austerity"

14 minutes ago, ExFlyer said:

Caucus in Crisis: Conservatives in Turmoil as Pierre Poilievre Poilievre Faces Growing Pressure

What began as a chance to define the budget narrative quickly spiraled into a week of internal damage control, defections, and whispered doubts about the Conservative leader’s future.

The trouble started just before Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne tabled the Mark Carney government’s first budget, a massive spending plan the Conservatives had been eager to oppose.

But within hours, headlines shifted. Long-time Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont announced he was crossing the floor to join the Liberals.

Party insiders say senior Conservatives rushed to his office in a last-minute attempt to stop him. It didn’t work. Standing beside Prime Minister Mark Carney the next day, d’Entremont said he no longer felt represented by the tone and direction of Poilievre’s leadership, and hinted that other MPs felt the same.

Resignation Adds to the Fallout

Within 48 hours, another blow hit. Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux, a four-term Conservative, suddenly announced he would resign from federal politics, citing family reasons. But his departure, coming amid rumours that he, too, had been approached by Liberals, deepened the sense of instability.

By Thursday evening, the focus in Ottawa had fully shifted: not to the budget’s numbers, but to the Conservative leader’s future.

One senior strategist described the mood bluntly:

“It’s not rebellion, but it is anxiety. A few more surprises like this, and members will start asking if he can win.”

From Attack Mode to Defence

For a party that had planned to spend budget week criticizing Liberal spending, the script flipped completely. Internal sources said the Conservatives went from “attack mode to containment mode overnight,” as senior aides scrambled to ensure no more caucus surprises before the next sitting week.

Poilievre’s leadership team insists the caucus remains “united and focused.” But privately, organizers acknowledge the pressure has intensified ahead of the mandatory leadership review next year.

Leadership Review Looms Large

Following the 2025 election, which left the Conservatives with 144 seats to the Liberals’ 169, Poilievre must face party delegates at a leadership review convention in Calgary.

Until recently, insiders believed he could secure more than 80 percent support.

Now, amid defections and uncertainty, that number is less certain.

Party organizers are now monitoring delegate selections riding by riding, an unusual level of vigilance this far out from convention season.

A Missed Opportunity

Budget week is usually a golden opportunity for the Opposition to control the message. Instead, the Conservatives spent it explaining internal turbulence while the Liberals strengthened their footing in the House, just three seats away from a majority.

Former Tory strategists now warn that the next few weeks will be crucial. If even one more MP crosses the floor, it could shift the balance of power, and possibly Poilievre’s political future.

“This was supposed to be the week they defined the budget,” one senior operative said. “Instead, it’s the week everyone started asking if Pierre can survive his own caucus.”

Your Turn

What do you think, can Poilievre hold his party together, or are the cracks showing? Drop your comment below. Keep it respectful, strong opinions welcome, personal attacks not.

The conservatives are in great shape, getting rid of the Deadwood benefits them.

Carney's got a bigger problem. And it showed up in his budget nicely. He's obviously trying to be both stimulating to business and an environmentalist and it's not working. This is definitely a budget by committee and absolutely nobody who's professional likes it

[ExFlyer]

1 hour ago, CdnFox said:

 

The conservatives are in great shape, getting rid of the Deadwood benefits them.

 

LOSERS. LOSERS LOSERS HA HA HA 

[WestCanMan]

20 minutes ago, ExFlyer said:

LOSERS. LOSERS LOSERS HA HA HA 

There's no way in hell that you're an actual adult who is of retirement age, Down-Arrows Syndrome Boy. 

At the very most you're 15.  

[Army Guy]

On 11/6/2025 at 1:00 AM, Zeitgeist said:

Fair enough.  Trudeau damaged the country.

Lets be real, Justin started a huge dumpster fire, and Liberal voters let him, by giving him 3 terms....And Carney is left with a heap of ashes, fires all around him, pressure from inter national community to final pay into the NATO club what is due, I am glad in a way a liberal government formed the next government , as fixing what Justin did, is going to take more than just a banker, it is going to take a miracle..... I think the conservatives dodged a bullet there...

Edited November 8, 2025 by Army Guy

[CdnFox]

1 hour ago, ExFlyer said:

LOSERS. LOSERS LOSERS HA HA HA 

Holy shit kid, you've completely lost it. 

Maybe you should take a rest and try again later. 

And i'm not sure a guy who ran the country for 10 years can be called a 'loser'  

[CdnFox]

2 minutes ago, Army Guy said:

Lets be real, Justin started a huge dumpster fire, and Liberal voters let him, by giving him 3 terms....And Carney is left with a heap of ashes, fires all around him, pressure from inter national community to final pay into the NATO club what is due, I am glad in a way a liberal government formed the next government , as fixing what Justin did, is going to take more than just a banker, it is going to take a miracle..... I think the conservatives dodged a bullet there...

This isn't actually all that rare of a sentiment. 

I've heard it repeated many times: "maybe it's for the best that carney is the one forced to start to clean up the mess, he can take all the crap for the hell people will go through then we can come back when people are angry at him and take over when things are getting better'. 

And in fact that's what the libs have done to us many times in the past,  made a mess, left it to us to clean up, then swooped back in when we get the ship righted and make a mess again. 

It's not entirely ridiculous.  

But the problem with that is that it only really works if carney is competent and does the right things.  His solutions are not the right things. He's got the right ideas but his implementation is wrong, and will not achieve what we want. 

So unfortunately we're just going to get a bigger mess. 

[WestCanMan]

1 hour ago, CdnFox said:

And i'm not sure a guy who ran the country for 10 years can be called a 'loser'  

Canada was a great country when Harper left, and there's nothing about the country that didn't get worse since then. Not one thing. 

No one thought that under the next administration peaceful protesters would be getting beaten on the street, young adults would be getting forced to take vaccines that they didn't need, people's bank accounts would be getting frozen for donating to a peaceful protest, and there would be a campaign of lies, accusations and slander from our federal gov't against our own people. 

Add to that the fact that houses have become completely unaffordable, energy bills have skyrocketed, and the price of food is ridiculous. A few years ago I could get 4 sirloins for $16 most days of the week, now it's $30-40. 3 rib-eyes at Costco in Langley are $100 now. Three. We used to get a whole beef tenderloin for that ten years ago. 

I almost forgot that gas used to be well under a dollar, and it has been at or over the $2 mark since basically the second year of Trudeau's first gov't. 

It's actually hard to believe how much worse everything has gotten in just a bit over ten years. The country is almost unrecognizable. 

[CdnFox]

35 minutes ago, WestCanMan said:

Canada was a great country when Harper left, and there's nothing about the country that didn't get worse since then. Not one thing. 

No one thought that under the next administration peaceful protesters would be getting beaten on the street, young adults would be getting forced to take vaccines that they didn't need, people's bank accounts would be getting frozen for donating to a peaceful protest, and there would be a campaign of lies, accusations and slander from our federal gov't against our own people. 

Add to that the fact that houses have become completely unaffordable, energy bills have skyrocketed, and the price of food is ridiculous. A few years ago I could get 4 sirloins for $16 most days of the week, now it's $30-40. 3 rib-eyes at Costco in Langley are $100 now. Three. We used to get a whole beef tenderloin for that ten years ago. 

I almost forgot that gas used to be well under a dollar, and it has been at or over the $2 mark since basically the second year of Trudeau's first gov't. 

It's actually hard to believe how much worse everything has gotten in just a bit over ten years. The country is almost unrecognizable. 

Yeah. Say what you like about the guy, nobody can dispute that Justin was transformative  It just wasn't the kind of transformation we wanted to see.

The real blow in my books is how people treat each other. There is a shocking reduction in patients that people have for each other. He played a huge role in teaching people to see those who disagree as enemies who must be crushed, rather than neighbours who you need to work stuff out with. 

 

[eyeball]

2 hours ago, CdnFox said:

This isn't actually all that rare of a sentiment. 

It's more a state of awareness really and it isn't rare at all. Its an awareness that helped sink Poilievre's election chances. And with 3 years still to go Trump's reign of craziness upheld by a sycophantic Congress will put an aversion for the right wing into North Americans especially, and humanity in general, that will persist for decades.

As people have known for centuries, the path to enlightenment is always painful.

 

[blackbird]

2 minutes ago, eyeball said:

As people have known for centuries, the path to enlightenment is always painful.

What is your definition of the path to enlightenment?  What do you believe enlightenment is?

[eyeball]

16 minutes ago, blackbird said:

What is your definition of the path to enlightenment? 

Trying to understand the nature of reality and seeing things as they truly are free from delusions and supernatural nonsense for sure.

17 minutes ago, blackbird said:

What do you believe enlightenment is?

A preferable way of being -  appropriateness - right up there with doing unto others yadda. yadda.

[blackbird]

1 hour ago, eyeball said:

Trying to understand the nature of reality and seeing things as they truly are free from delusions and supernatural nonsense for sure.

A preferable way of being -  appropriateness - right up there with doing unto others yadda. yadda.

That of course includes telling Bible believers they are delusional and it is nonsense when you yourself have no rational answer to how creation came to be and how you are a sinner and what the solution is.

1 hour ago, eyeball said:

Trying to understand the nature of reality and seeing things as they truly are free from delusions and supernatural nonsense for sure.

When you find the answer apart from the God of the Bible, let us know.  

Edited November 9, 2025 by blackbird

[CdnFox]

55 minutes ago, eyeball said:

It's more a state of awareness really and it isn't rare at all. Its an awareness that helped sink Poilievre's election chances.

 

You don't know what 'State of awareness' means apperently   it doesn't apply to hypothetical future events.  You can't be aware of something that doesn't exist.  Why am i always having to explain english to you?

And it played no role whatsoever in the last election. 

 

Quote

And with phantic Congress will put an aversion for the right wing into North Americans especially, and humanity in general3 years still to go Trump's reign of craziness upheld by a syco, that will persist for decades.

Ahh.  You've been drinking.  Got it

Quote

As people have known for centuries, the path to enlightenment is always painful.

As will be your head in the morning i suspect  

 

[ExFlyer]

15 hours ago, WestCanMan said:

There's no way in hell that you're an actual adult who is of retirement age, Down-Arrows Syndrome Boy. 

At the very most you're 15.  

 

POILIEVRE SHUTS HIS MPs UP, AND PUNISHES THOSE

WHO DISAGREE

Poilievre's office maintains tight control over what Conservative MPs say and do

Party staffers monitor caucus for signs of message indiscipline and fraternization with other MPs

Christian Noel · Posted: Nov 20, 2024 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: November 20

Poilievre's office maintains tight control over what Conservative MPs say and do

Radio-Canada's Christian Noel explains how Pierre Poilievre's office exerts tight control over Conservative MPs statements and actions.

After two years of Pierre Poilievre as their leader, many CONSERVATIVE MPs SAY THEY ARE MUCH LESS FREE NOW THAN THEY WERE BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL.

The man who promised during his leadership run to make Canada "the freest country in the world" maintains tight control over the actions of his caucus members.

Normally loquacious Conservatives close up like oysters and DARE NOT SPEAK without their leader's approval. MPs are watched by Conservative staffers both inside and outside Parliament. Elected representatives are publicly called to order for deviating from the party line.

Everybody is being watched. What we say, what we do, who we talk to. We're told not to fraternize with MPs from the other parties. And that's not normal.

- Conservative Party source

Conservative MPs' words and actions are closely scrutinized by the leader's office. Partisanship is encouraged. Fraternizing with elected officials from other parties is a no-no.

Those who follow these rules are rewarded. Those who don't often have to suffer consequences.

"There are always multiple people in the penalty box, there is always someone in trouble," one caucus member said.

"You don't need to be told what to do. You watch the leader and understand what's expected from you," one Conservative source said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre went blow-for-blow in the House of Commons on Wednesday. House Speaker Greg Fergus struggled to maintain order as Trudeau chided Poilievre over claims he's muzzling his caucus members, while the Conservative leader attacked the PM's leadership after some Liberal MPs called for him to step down.

"The leader comes first. Do not undercut him," said another.

Radio-Canada spoke with more than a dozen elected representatives, employees and members of the Conservative Party of Canada from three different provinces. The sources were granted anonymity so they could express themselves freely. All reported a tightening of caucus discipline under Poilievre's leadership.

"Since Pierre became leader, you can feel the difference," said a source in the Conservative leader's entourage. "MPs don't get too comfortable. They're careful."

But some in the Conservative ranks are beginning to chafe at the restrictions.

Some elected officials feel they come to caucus "to be told what to do and what to think" by the leader, one Conservative source said.

"Sometimes the leader listens to suggestions. But often, his mind is already made up. It's often a one-way conversation," another source added.

"It's not ideal, but it works," one source said. The Conservatives have a 20-point lead in several polls.

"When you're leading, it's easy to keep discipline within the caucus. But if there's a drop in the polls … well, then we'll see."

If the leader invents a new slogan, "we know we'll have to use it," said a Conservative source.

Catchphrases deployed by Poilievre in the House of Commons and at media events (axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, stop the crime) and terms of derision like "wacko," "radical," "Justinflation" and "Sellout Jagmeet Singh" are often picked up and repeated by Conservative MPs.

Take, for example, the word "wacko."

Poilievre was expelled from the House of Commons in April for using this word and refusing to withdraw remarks he made about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Before that incident, the term had been used twice in the House of Commons in the previous 18 months. In the months since, Conservative MPs have repeated it more than 100 times in the Commons.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was kicked out of question period after he called the prime minister a "wacko" and refused to withdraw the language when Speaker Greg Fergus asked him to.

"IF YOU REPEAT THE SLOGANS, YOU GET REWARDED," said a Conservative source.

"You are celebrated in front of the entire caucus for being a good cheerleader. And you get more speaking time in the House and during question period."

THOSE WHO REFUSE TO PARROT THE LINES LOSE THEIR SPEAKING TIME, another source added.

It's radio silence at the entrance to Conservative caucus meetings these days. Every Wednesday morning, journalists throw questions at the arriving MPs. Almost all of them pass without answering; some avoid making eye contact with journalists.

Every week when Parliament is in session, journalists wait at the entrances to the Conservative and Liberal caucus meetings to speak with MPs on their way in and out. The practice was established decades ago.

Every week when Parliament is in session, journalists wait at the entrances to the party caucus meeting rooms to speak with MPs. The practice was established decades ago.

MPs from the other parties seldom hesitate to answer journalists' questions. And when Erin O'Toole and Andrew Scheer led the Conservatives, many Conservative MPs stopped by to chat with reporters every Wednesday.

In the early days of the Poilievre era, a press secretary for the leader was seen on a few occasions signalling MPs not to stop in front of the cameras. Like a policeman directing traffic, he seemed to be beckoning them to enter the room without responding to reporters.

More recently, press secretaries from Poilievre's office have been supervising the entrances to Parliament and monitoring journalists' scrums with MPs, with the goal of recording the exchanges. The Conservative Party is the only federal party that currently does this.

SAM LILLY, spokesman for the Leader of the Official Opposition, is often present at the entrance to the caucus, DOCUMENTING MPs' COMMENTS TO JOURNALISTS.

As a result, many Conservative MPs who used to be very outspoken are now reluctant to grant interviews to journalists without first receiving the go-ahead from Poilievre's office.

"It's not that unusual to act that way," said Yan Plante, a former Conservative adviser under Stephen Harper. "The leader's staff wants to limit the risks as much as possible and let the leader, the group's best communicator, do the heavy lifting."

He said holding the leash too tightly can also lead to problems.

"It can demoralize caucus members," Plante said. "Over time, it can become an internal threat, where you also have opposition within your own caucus."

The ones who watch caucus

Sources told Radio-Canada that Conservative Party staffers keep a close eye on MPs' activities — who's talking to reporters, who's deviating from the party line, who's fraternizing with MPs from other parties.

Journalists have spotted party staffers taking notes and sources say these activities are reported to the leader's office.

"EVERYBODY IS BEING WATCHED. What we say, what we do, who we talk to. We're told not to fraternize with MPs from the other parties. And that's not normal," a Conservative source said.

"To be a good MP, it's important to build relationships with colleagues from other parties. That's how Parliament works best for Canadians. But the leader's office won't let us."

Sources say Conservative staffers monitor MPs' interactions not only in the Commons chamber but also in the corridors of Parliament and at social events such as the Press Gallery dinner and the Speaker's garden party.

Poilievre's press attaché was even spotted jotting down the names of Conservative MPs attending the Press Gallery dinner this spring. It's an event that Poilievre — who has strained relations with the Parliamentary Press Gallery — and most of his MPs have avoided for the past two years.

"We don't get told not to go, but we can see that the leader doesn't go, so we do the same. Otherwise, it would be frowned upon," said one Conservative source.

Plante said that if Poilievre's office is maintaining this kind of tight control over MPs, it's going too far.

"Political employees were not elected by the people," he said.

"If I were a member of Parliament and this concerned me, I'd go to the leader to denounce the situation and say I'm not going to stand for this."

Personal discipline

Poilievre imposes iron discipline on himself. He works hard. He works late.

"We've been telling him for months that he needs to take a vacation, but he just won't listen," one source said.

"He's the one who decides everything. His main adviser is himself … The people around him are only there to realize the leader's vision."

Every message that bears Poilievre's name on social media must first receive his approval, the source added.

"He's not a dictator," the source said. "He has a vision, he knows where he's going and how to get there."

Poilievre's chief of staff "doesn't decide much," the source added. "He manages his calendar more than the party's policies."

"Pierre Poilievre went to the Harper school," said Plante, referring to the former Conservative prime minister in whose cabinet Poilievre served. "His entourage is made up of several people who went to the Harper school, where message discipline was important."

Poilievre follows his mentor's example in leading his troops. Unlike his predecessors, he can afford to do so.

Erin O'Toole needed three rounds of voting before being declared Conservative leader; he ended up with 57 per cent of the vote. Andrew Scheer needed 13 rounds and finished with 51 per cent. Both had heavily courted different factions of the party to gain the necessary support.

Poilievre won the leadership decisively on the first ballot, with 68 per cent of the vote.

"He doesn't owe anything to anyone," one Conservative source said. "He is not beholden to the religious wing of the party, or the social conservatives or the progressives."

"He has the credibility to keep people disciplined and to call delinquents to order," another source said.

"IF YOU STRAY TOO FAR FROM THE MESSAGE, YOU GET TOLD PRETTY QUICKLY," a third source said.

Recent examples abound. Conservative MPs who have expressed their opinions in public, or who have strayed slightly from the party's central message, have been swiftly called on the carpet by Poilievre's office and forced to course-correct.

If a Conservative elected official brings up a subject that contradicts or embarrasses the leader, "the message gets through pretty quickly," one Conservative source said.

Some MPs have lost speaking time in the Commons or in committees as punishment.

"It's a way for Pierre to point out who he likes and who he doesn't," a source added.

Here are several recent examples of Conservative MPs called out by Poilievre:

November 2024: Seventeen Conservative MPs who pleaded with the government to ensure that cities in their ridings received their share of a federal housing fund were publicly rebuffed by the leader's office.

In a news release distributed to the media without their consent, Poilievre forced those MPs to renege on their commitment to mayors in their ridings.

Conservative MPs frustrated after Poilievre bars them from promoting housing fund: sources

At least 17 Conservative MPs advocated for money from a housing program Poilievre vows to cut

Conservative MPs backed communities seeking Liberal housing fund Poilievre vows to cut

September 2024: As Poilievre tabled a confidence motion to bring down the government, Conservative MP Kevin Waugh questioned the utility of holding a federal election just as Saskatchewan voters were heading to the polls for provincial and municipal elections.

Shortly thereafter — in a press release issued under his name but sent by the leader's office — Waugh wrote, "We need a carbon tax election now."

July 2024: Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus said that a Conservative government would not fund the Quebec City tramway project but that if "agreements are signed, we won't redo what's been done. We won't start undoing contracts ... we'll respect them".

A few hours later, he was forced to retract his statement on X after a call from the leader's office: "A Conservative government will NOT invest federal money in a tramway, no matter what Justin Trudeau promises."

June 2024: In an interview on a Liberal MP's podcast, Conservative MP Arnold Viersen said he looks forward to a day "when abortion is unthinkable." He also said he would vote against gay marriage if given the opportunity and hinted that he's banking on the strength of the Conservatives' religious caucus to change laws once in power.

Poilievre's office quickly issued a correction in the MP's name, saying his comments "don't represent the positions of the leader, nor the policies passed by Conservative Party members themselves."

Pierre Poilievre disagrees with Conservative MP who wants to vote against same-sex marriage

Liberal MP 'surprised' social conservative felt 'ambushed' by questions on abortion

A number of Conservative sources said they're not bothered by this degree of top-down control. "It avoids missteps and distractions," one said.

Earlier this year, Ontario Conservative MP Karen Vecchio lost her chairmanship of the status of women committee under mysterious circumstances. Anita Vandenbeld, a Liberal MP on the same committee, claimed Vecchio "was punished because she collaborated too much with the other parties."

"She didn't subscribe to the Conservatives' idea that everything should be blocked in committee, especially not on issues like the Status of Women," Vandenbeld said.

Vecchio did not respond to Radio-Canada's request for her version of events. Poilievre's office said it's common practice to change committee chairs. But sources told Radio-Canada that Vecchio did not take the change well.

Liberal and NDP MPs lament departure of longtime Tory MP as status of women chair

In January, MP Leslyn Lewis supported a petition calling for Canada to withdraw from the United Nations. As a result, her speaking time was reduced to question period. According to Radio-Canada's calculations, the frequency of her statements and questions in the Commons was cut in half in subsequent months.

Lewis and Poilievre's office did not respond to requests for comment.

Prime Minister Poilievre?

Will Poilievre's iron discipline and tight control of Conservative troops last if he becomes prime minister?

"His personal challenge, I think, will be not to control everything," said Rodolphe Husny, a former Conservative adviser under Scheer. That will be hard for Poilievre, he said, "because I don't think it's in his personality to delegate."

Several Conservatives agreed.

"THERE'S A VERY SMALL CIRCLE AROUND THE LEADER. THERE'S A LACK OF VARIETY OF OPINION. THAT'S OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE," SAID A CONSERVATIVE SOURCE.

"Once in power, it's important to give some slack so that people feel freer ... to see a little more of our team members out in the media," Plante said.

But until then, the discipline Poilievre imposes on his MPs enables him to avoid most pitfalls and issue a consistent message.

It's a method that may merely generate resentment against an opposition leader, but can quickly become a pebble in a prime minister's shoe.

Christian Noel

Reporter, Radio-Canada

Edited November 9, 2025 by ExFlyer

[eyeball]

12 hours ago, CdnFox said:

You don't know what 'State of awareness' means apperently   it doesn't apply to hypothetical future events.  You can't be aware of something that doesn't exist. 

Sure, except the crazies do exist and of course your awareness of them applies to the future - by providing insights and clues to what the future may hold.

You've never based a prediction on what's happening at the moment? How do you even manage to get out of bed?

12 hours ago, CdnFox said:

Why am i always having to explain english to you?

Is that what you think you're doing? LMAO!

[eyeball]

12 hours ago, blackbird said:

you yourself have no rational answer to how creation came to be

It came to be thru the same material physical processes we can see and measure all around us all the time. Not according to supernatural notions that have no basis in reality.

12 hours ago, blackbird said:

When you find the answer apart from the God of the Bible, let us know.  

I just did.

[CdnFox]

4 hours ago, ExFlyer said:

 

POILIEVRE SHUTS HIS MPs UP, AND PUNISHES THOSE

WHO DISAGREE

Poilievre's office maintains tight control over what Conservative MPs say and do

Party staffers monitor caucus for signs of message indiscipline and fraternization with other MPs

Christian Noel · Posted: Nov 20, 2024 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: November 20

Poilievre's office maintains tight control over what Conservative MPs say and do

Radio-Canada's Christian Noel explains how Pierre Poilievre's office exerts tight control over Conservative MPs statements and actions.

After two years of Pierre Poilievre as their leader, many CONSERVATIVE MPs SAY THEY ARE MUCH LESS FREE NOW THAN THEY WERE BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL.

The man who promised during his leadership run to make Canada "the freest country in the world" maintains tight control over the actions of his caucus members.

Normally loquacious Conservatives close up like oysters and DARE NOT SPEAK without their leader's approval. MPs are watched by Conservative staffers both inside and outside Parliament. Elected representatives are publicly called to order for deviating from the party line.

Everybody is being watched. What we say, what we do, who we talk to. We're told not to fraternize with MPs from the other parties. And that's not normal.

- Conservative Party source

Conservative MPs' words and actions are closely scrutinized by the leader's office. Partisanship is encouraged. Fraternizing with elected officials from other parties is a no-no.

Those who follow these rules are rewarded. Those who don't often have to suffer consequences.

"There are always multiple people in the penalty box, there is always someone in trouble," one caucus member said.

"You don't need to be told what to do. You watch the leader and understand what's expected from you," one Conservative source said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre went blow-for-blow in the House of Commons on Wednesday. House Speaker Greg Fergus struggled to maintain order as Trudeau chided Poilievre over claims he's muzzling his caucus members, while the Conservative leader attacked the PM's leadership after some Liberal MPs called for him to step down.

"The leader comes first. Do not undercut him," said another.

Radio-Canada spoke with more than a dozen elected representatives, employees and members of the Conservative Party of Canada from three different provinces. The sources were granted anonymity so they could express themselves freely. All reported a tightening of caucus discipline under Poilievre's leadership.

"Since Pierre became leader, you can feel the difference," said a source in the Conservative leader's entourage. "MPs don't get too comfortable. They're careful."

But some in the Conservative ranks are beginning to chafe at the restrictions.

Some elected officials feel they come to caucus "to be told what to do and what to think" by the leader, one Conservative source said.

"Sometimes the leader listens to suggestions. But often, his mind is already made up. It's often a one-way conversation," another source added.

"It's not ideal, but it works," one source said. The Conservatives have a 20-point lead in several polls.

"When you're leading, it's easy to keep discipline within the caucus. But if there's a drop in the polls … well, then we'll see."

If the leader invents a new slogan, "we know we'll have to use it," said a Conservative source.

Catchphrases deployed by Poilievre in the House of Commons and at media events (axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget, stop the crime) and terms of derision like "wacko," "radical," "Justinflation" and "Sellout Jagmeet Singh" are often picked up and repeated by Conservative MPs.

Take, for example, the word "wacko."

Poilievre was expelled from the House of Commons in April for using this word and refusing to withdraw remarks he made about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Before that incident, the term had been used twice in the House of Commons in the previous 18 months. In the months since, Conservative MPs have repeated it more than 100 times in the Commons.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was kicked out of question period after he called the prime minister a "wacko" and refused to withdraw the language when Speaker Greg Fergus asked him to.

"IF YOU REPEAT THE SLOGANS, YOU GET REWARDED," said a Conservative source.

"You are celebrated in front of the entire caucus for being a good cheerleader. And you get more speaking time in the House and during question period."

THOSE WHO REFUSE TO PARROT THE LINES LOSE THEIR SPEAKING TIME, another source added.

It's radio silence at the entrance to Conservative caucus meetings these days. Every Wednesday morning, journalists throw questions at the arriving MPs. Almost all of them pass without answering; some avoid making eye contact with journalists.

Every week when Parliament is in session, journalists wait at the entrances to the Conservative and Liberal caucus meetings to speak with MPs on their way in and out. The practice was established decades ago.

Every week when Parliament is in session, journalists wait at the entrances to the party caucus meeting rooms to speak with MPs. The practice was established decades ago.

MPs from the other parties seldom hesitate to answer journalists' questions. And when Erin O'Toole and Andrew Scheer led the Conservatives, many Conservative MPs stopped by to chat with reporters every Wednesday.

In the early days of the Poilievre era, a press secretary for the leader was seen on a few occasions signalling MPs not to stop in front of the cameras. Like a policeman directing traffic, he seemed to be beckoning them to enter the room without responding to reporters.

More recently, press secretaries from Poilievre's office have been supervising the entrances to Parliament and monitoring journalists' scrums with MPs, with the goal of recording the exchanges. The Conservative Party is the only federal party that currently does this.

SAM LILLY, spokesman for the Leader of the Official Opposition, is often present at the entrance to the caucus, DOCUMENTING MPs' COMMENTS TO JOURNALISTS.

As a result, many Conservative MPs who used to be very outspoken are now reluctant to grant interviews to journalists without first receiving the go-ahead from Poilievre's office.

"It's not that unusual to act that way," said Yan Plante, a former Conservative adviser under Stephen Harper. "The leader's staff wants to limit the risks as much as possible and let the leader, the group's best communicator, do the heavy lifting."

He said holding the leash too tightly can also lead to problems.

"It can demoralize caucus members," Plante said. "Over time, it can become an internal threat, where you also have opposition within your own caucus."

The ones who watch caucus

Sources told Radio-Canada that Conservative Party staffers keep a close eye on MPs' activities — who's talking to reporters, who's deviating from the party line, who's fraternizing with MPs from other parties.

Journalists have spotted party staffers taking notes and sources say these activities are reported to the leader's office.

"EVERYBODY IS BEING WATCHED. What we say, what we do, who we talk to. We're told not to fraternize with MPs from the other parties. And that's not normal," a Conservative source said.

"To be a good MP, it's important to build relationships with colleagues from other parties. That's how Parliament works best for Canadians. But the leader's office won't let us."

Sources say Conservative staffers monitor MPs' interactions not only in the Commons chamber but also in the corridors of Parliament and at social events such as the Press Gallery dinner and the Speaker's garden party.

Poilievre's press attaché was even spotted jotting down the names of Conservative MPs attending the Press Gallery dinner this spring. It's an event that Poilievre — who has strained relations with the Parliamentary Press Gallery — and most of his MPs have avoided for the past two years.

"We don't get told not to go, but we can see that the leader doesn't go, so we do the same. Otherwise, it would be frowned upon," said one Conservative source.

Plante said that if Poilievre's office is maintaining this kind of tight control over MPs, it's going too far.

"Political employees were not elected by the people," he said.

"If I were a member of Parliament and this concerned me, I'd go to the leader to denounce the situation and say I'm not going to stand for this."

Personal discipline

Poilievre imposes iron discipline on himself. He works hard. He works late.

"We've been telling him for months that he needs to take a vacation, but he just won't listen," one source said.

"He's the one who decides everything. His main adviser is himself … The people around him are only there to realize the leader's vision."

Every message that bears Poilievre's name on social media must first receive his approval, the source added.

"He's not a dictator," the source said. "He has a vision, he knows where he's going and how to get there."

Poilievre's chief of staff "doesn't decide much," the source added. "He manages his calendar more than the party's policies."

"Pierre Poilievre went to the Harper school," said Plante, referring to the former Conservative prime minister in whose cabinet Poilievre served. "His entourage is made up of several people who went to the Harper school, where message discipline was important."

Poilievre follows his mentor's example in leading his troops. Unlike his predecessors, he can afford to do so.

Erin O'Toole needed three rounds of voting before being declared Conservative leader; he ended up with 57 per cent of the vote. Andrew Scheer needed 13 rounds and finished with 51 per cent. Both had heavily courted different factions of the party to gain the necessary support.

Poilievre won the leadership decisively on the first ballot, with 68 per cent of the vote.

"He doesn't owe anything to anyone," one Conservative source said. "He is not beholden to the religious wing of the party, or the social conservatives or the progressives."

"He has the credibility to keep people disciplined and to call delinquents to order," another source said.

"IF YOU STRAY TOO FAR FROM THE MESSAGE, YOU GET TOLD PRETTY QUICKLY," a third source said.

Recent examples abound. Conservative MPs who have expressed their opinions in public, or who have strayed slightly from the party's central message, have been swiftly called on the carpet by Poilievre's office and forced to course-correct.

If a Conservative elected official brings up a subject that contradicts or embarrasses the leader, "the message gets through pretty quickly," one Conservative source said.

Some MPs have lost speaking time in the Commons or in committees as punishment.

"It's a way for Pierre to point out who he likes and who he doesn't," a source added.

Here are several recent examples of Conservative MPs called out by Poilievre:

November 2024: Seventeen Conservative MPs who pleaded with the government to ensure that cities in their ridings received their share of a federal housing fund were publicly rebuffed by the leader's office.

In a news release distributed to the media without their consent, Poilievre forced those MPs to renege on their commitment to mayors in their ridings.

Conservative MPs frustrated after Poilievre bars them from promoting housing fund: sources

At least 17 Conservative MPs advocated for money from a housing program Poilievre vows to cut

Conservative MPs backed communities seeking Liberal housing fund Poilievre vows to cut

September 2024: As Poilievre tabled a confidence motion to bring down the government, Conservative MP Kevin Waugh questioned the utility of holding a federal election just as Saskatchewan voters were heading to the polls for provincial and municipal elections.

Shortly thereafter — in a press release issued under his name but sent by the leader's office — Waugh wrote, "We need a carbon tax election now."

July 2024: Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus said that a Conservative government would not fund the Quebec City tramway project but that if "agreements are signed, we won't redo what's been done. We won't start undoing contracts ... we'll respect them".

A few hours later, he was forced to retract his statement on X after a call from the leader's office: "A Conservative government will NOT invest federal money in a tramway, no matter what Justin Trudeau promises."

June 2024: In an interview on a Liberal MP's podcast, Conservative MP Arnold Viersen said he looks forward to a day "when abortion is unthinkable." He also said he would vote against gay marriage if given the opportunity and hinted that he's banking on the strength of the Conservatives' religious caucus to change laws once in power.

Poilievre's office quickly issued a correction in the MP's name, saying his comments "don't represent the positions of the leader, nor the policies passed by Conservative Party members themselves."

Pierre Poilievre disagrees with Conservative MP who wants to vote against same-sex marriage

Liberal MP 'surprised' social conservative felt 'ambushed' by questions on abortion

A number of Conservative sources said they're not bothered by this degree of top-down control. "It avoids missteps and distractions," one said.

Earlier this year, Ontario Conservative MP Karen Vecchio lost her chairmanship of the status of women committee under mysterious circumstances. Anita Vandenbeld, a Liberal MP on the same committee, claimed Vecchio "was punished because she collaborated too much with the other parties."

"She didn't subscribe to the Conservatives' idea that everything should be blocked in committee, especially not on issues like the Status of Women," Vandenbeld said.

Vecchio did not respond to Radio-Canada's request for her version of events. Poilievre's office said it's common practice to change committee chairs. But sources told Radio-Canada that Vecchio did not take the change well.

Liberal and NDP MPs lament departure of longtime Tory MP as status of women chair

In January, MP Leslyn Lewis supported a petition calling for Canada to withdraw from the United Nations. As a result, her speaking time was reduced to question period. According to Radio-Canada's calculations, the frequency of her statements and questions in the Commons was cut in half in subsequent months.

Lewis and Poilievre's office did not respond to requests for comment.

Prime Minister Poilievre?

Will Poilievre's iron discipline and tight control of Conservative troops last if he becomes prime minister?

"His personal challenge, I think, will be not to control everything," said Rodolphe Husny, a former Conservative adviser under Scheer. That will be hard for Poilievre, he said, "because I don't think it's in his personality to delegate."

Several Conservatives agreed.

"THERE'S A VERY SMALL CIRCLE AROUND THE LEADER. THERE'S A LACK OF VARIETY OF OPINION. THAT'S OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE," SAID A CONSERVATIVE SOURCE.

"Once in power, it's important to give some slack so that people feel freer ... to see a little more of our team members out in the media," Plante said.

But until then, the discipline Poilievre imposes on his MPs enables him to avoid most pitfalls and issue a consistent message.

It's a method that may merely generate resentment against an opposition leader, but can quickly become a pebble in a prime minister's shoe.

Christian Noel

Reporter, Radio-Canada

Holy triggered batman   

[CdnFox]

1 hour ago, eyeball said:

Sure, except the crazies do exist and of course your awareness of them applies to the future - by providing insights and clues to what the future may hold.

No, again that's not what awareness means. The best you could claim is that you are aware of the potential.

Your problem is that you always want to sound cool and knowledgeable but you struggle with it a bit so you pick up gobbledygook words and use them inappropriately to sound insightful. But it just sounds like you don't know what you're talking about.

1 hour ago, eyeball said:

You've never based a prediction on what's happening at the moment? How do you even manage to get out of bed?

I'm aware of what's happening at the moment. I predict the future. I'm not aware of the future because it hasn't happened yet. Honestly I'm going to start charging you for tutoring  

1 hour ago, eyeball said:

Is that what you think you're doing? LMAO!

Well in the sense that I'm explaining, but I suppose if one were to explain something to a goat and the goat was incapable of understanding would you really be able to say that you were explaining it to the goat?  

 

Anyway I hope your head feels better this morning. Whatever the hell you were drinking obviously wasn't high end  

[eyeball]

22 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

No...

Yes...there are clearly enough crazy right wingers to make the electorate cautious.

Conservatives need to scrape them off.

 

[Barquentine]

On 11/8/2025 at 11:23 AM, CdnFox said:

Sure they can. Kings were voted out, overthrow, ursurped etc all the time. 

There are very few periods in history where a king's power was absolute. 

The democratic process built into the system solidifies and formalizes the ability of the people to choose their leader and extends that power to all the people instead of just the nobility and land owners, which is great, but it doesn't change the fact there's still a leader. ANd over the years more and more presidents have stolen more and more power away from the  congress and put it in the oval office and they did so legally.

Not voted out. Kings and other nobles had power as long as they could hold on to it. 

But more importantly it isn't really about how much power the leader has. That ebbs and flows in democracies. The really important point is that under a king, you're not a citizen but a subject of the king. That is controlled by having a costitutional monarchy. Ours is an odd mixture- the King is had of state but we passed the citizenship act in 1977 to make us citizens.

But monarchy - antithetical to Americans since 1776 at least.