Poilievre looks to move past election loss, show Conservatives as 'a government-in-waiting'
OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is looking to move past his party’s election loss, telling his caucus they will present themselves as a “government-in-waiting” when Parliament reopens on Monday.
Poilievre began his address to his 144 MPs who met on Sunday to discuss their strategy for the weeks ahead by highlighting what the Conservatives accomplished in last month’s federal election despite losing for a fourth-straight time to the incumbent Liberals.
He highlighted how the party grew its coalition to include more young people and blue-collar workers who had never before voted Conservative.
Among those listening were the 20 new Conservative MPs elected, representing must-win regions like the Greater Toronto Area, southern Ontario and British Columbia.
Poilievre was introduced by Jonathan Rowe, the Conservatives’ newest MP, who clinched the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas by a mere 12 votes in a recent recount.
Jonathan Rowe introducing Pierre Poilievre at caucus today ????
— Marc Nixon (@MarcNixon24) May 25, 2025
Newfoundland came through.
I like this guy already. pic.twitter.com/HOZSk8nbFV
Despite its showing, the Conservatives’ election loss still hangs over Poilievre, who himself lost his Ottawa-area seat of Carleton and now plans to run in a byelection in the safe Conservative seat of Battle River—Crowfoot in rural Alberta, which has yet to be called.
David Coletto, CEO of the polling firm Abacus Data, was tapped to present details to caucus on Sunday about what public opinion showed regarding the Conservatives and the election, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and comments about wanting Canada to become the “51st state” were top of mind for many voters.
The emergence of Trump’s tariffs, combined with the entrance of Prime Minister Mark Carney and the exit of Justin Trudeau, saw the nearly 20-point lead that the Conservatives had enjoyed for the previous year-and-a-half disappear.
During the campaign, Poilievre defended his decision to focus on affordability issues and, even before the election was called, faced criticism from some within his party for not pivoting fast enough to the issue of Trump.
Some Conservative candidates also told National Post that voters, particularly women, felt Poilievre’s tone was too aggressive.
In his speech before the caucus on Sunday, Poilievre sought to strike a different tone, saying that when Conservatives push back against the Liberals’ policy agenda, they do so to offer Canadians hope and not only to hold the government’s feet to the fire.
“We do it because we want things to get better. When we act as a government-in-waiting, we do it to provide the hope that things can and will get better in a future Conservative government,” Poilievre said.
“We will present ourselves as a government-in-waiting to ensure that people know that, that hope remains.”
Under party rules, Poilievre will face a leadership review when the party holds its next convention, a date that has not yet been decided.
Dozens of current and former Conservative MPs have publicly stated they want Poilievre to remain on as leader.
Some Conservatives, including caucus members, have voiced concerns about the way the campaign was run, from its messaging to how nomination races were handled.
After the Conservatives’ last two election losses, the party tapped former MPs to conduct third-party reviews about what went wrong during the campaign and where they needed to improve.
Former party leader Andrew Scheer asked former Conservative cabinet minister John Baird to do one following the 2019 election and Erin O’Toole, who caucus ousted in February 2022, had asked former Edmonton MP James Cumming to conduct a campaign review.
LIVE: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addresses his party’s caucus
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) May 25, 2025
➡️https://t.co/6E3nN9bNSF
EN DIRECT : Le chef conservateur Pierre Poilievre s’adresse à son caucus
➡️https://t.co/mPX2zXEhi3#cdnpoli | #polcan pic.twitter.com/grTT5uRH6N
Ontario Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu told reporters on her way into Sunday’s caucus meeting that she believes one will happen, which would see campaign managers, candidates, and caucus members interviewed.
She initially said she believed that Rick Perkins, who lost his Nova Scotia seat in the recent election would lead the task, but later clarified that she “misspoke.”
Perkins has already been tapped to co-chair an economic growth council announced by Poilievre.
The party also issued a statement to say that specifics regarding a post-election review had not yet been decided.
“Details of a campaign review have not yet been confirmed at this time,” said Sarah Fischer, the Conservatives’ director of communications.
While Poilievre is out of Parliament, Scheer will act as the Conservatives’ leader in the House of Commons.
Last week, Poilievre announced that more than half of his MPs will serve in critic roles, with the roster showcasing more experienced MPs than fresh faces.
With the House set to open for the first time in nearly six months, there have been hints of a change of tone from the Conservatives, who have offered to work with the government on issues relating to Canada-U.S. relations as the country endures a trade war with its southern neighbour.
National Post
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