There was a woman crouching in her chair, a ton of others on their cell phones or left before the end.
Pierre Poilievre did not particularly fire up his supporters in his most important speech of his political career at the party convention in Quebec.
In other words, it was a success.
Take the chance
Because Pierre Poilievre is not talking to them, but to potential voters who have grown beyond his base.
There is no direct reference to villains open-eyedon trucks from freedom, to trans people, to abortion.
Poilievre avoids tackling issues that might get the room roaring or, conversely, turn off the average voter.
He left the red meat in the fridge, to serve a carefully prepared dish with one main ingredient: common sense.
In short, the newly softened Poilievre without glasses took root.
He understands the importance of time, he is leading in the polls ahead of a Justin Trudeau who has lost his Latin.
Quebec
There was much talk about Quebec in Mr. Poilievre’s speech.
His strategy in Quebec is revealed in quiet and simple disarming: speaking with the heart rather than the head.
His call to other Canadians, in English, to take the example of Quebecers who unapologetically “defend their language and their culture” is a clever attack on “cancel culture”.
He wants us to understand that he understands what sets us apart from the rest of the country.
His wife listened Watatatow, Little life and he knew My Ancestors.
Or at least, someone close to him had the idea to include the lyrics in Degenerations in his speech.
There is no question of a 50-point plan to seduce Quebec. It focuses on regions, the love of big tanks, the price of fuel, the access to housing, the cost of living.
The real deals, as they say. Or, if you prefer, “common sense”. We always come back to it.
It remains to be seen whether this strategy will be effective. His opposition to Bill 21 and his lack of interest in the environment may cost him.
Blind spots
There are also blind spots in the new Poilievre, which are many. Common sense is for now more of a slogan than a program.
He wants to cut public spending to balance the budget. But at the cost of what services?
He wants to facilitate access to property by financially punishing cities that don’t act strongly in his favor. A battle of cities that will be more complicated than expected.
Poilievre has other skulls he’s working to bury, like his appreciation for bitcoin and his YouTube videos secretly aimed at misogynists.
Will all this one day come to haunt him? Or will Canadians elsewhere decide their next government?
Liberals often believe that Poilievre is seen as too radical to pass for the average voter.
But for now, that does not want to take anything pitch effective salesman, it is rather Poilievre who takes advantage of the fact that he is not Justin Trudeau.
