Justin Trudeau would be wise to worry about not worrying enough about Pierre Poilievre’s rise in the polls. Because even within the liberal ranks, nervousness is growing. For reason.
Far ahead of the Liberals, outside of Quebec, the growth of the Conservative Party of Canada owes nothing to chance. After three mandates, the proverbial deterioration of Liberal power contributed to this. The explanation is small, however.
Justin Trudeau’s problem is that the carefully polished veneer of his “sunny ways” promised in 2015 is wearing off. The ambient climate is quite stormy.
Canada’s economy is running at full capacity while many Canadians are struggling. Broad inflation. Housing crisis. Interest rates are rising. Increase in homelessness. Increase food banks. Health systems are failing everywhere. and so on.
Justin Trudeau is responsible or not – health is a provincial responsibility – many Canadians are in no mood to celebrate.
It is in this climate of half anger and half frustration that Pierre Poilievre draws his most effective fuel. It works because the cost of living problem is real and growing.
Story of life
So his life story has been adapted to be the antithesis of Justin Trudeau in all things. Pierre Poilievre calls himself a man of “common sense”.
He reiterated that he and his wife Anaida, a refugee, came from a “modest background”. That their couple and their family are united and happy.
Also exit the annoying companions of the freedom convoy. Apart from the traditional media that he still despises, there is no more Trump-style surly tone. At least for now.
In short, his makeover is not only physical, but also very political. In his sweeping speech at the Conservative convention in Quebec, the “new” Poilievre tried everything in one go.
Even more, given by him and his wife, long passages of “Quebec” French. They expressed their admiration for these people who are “proud” of their “different” identity and their excellent artists.
A little more and the Conservative leader pulled out an arrow belt to prove it.
A new varnish
All this is the new “varnish” of Pierre Poilievre. In other words, this is his own version of Justin Trudeau’s “sunny ways” of yesteryear.
It promises the moon and the sun coming together. He vowed to fix EVERYTHING that Justin Trudeau, according to him, “broke” alone for eight years. If he becomes prime minister, Pierre Poilievre vows to defeat inflation.
That it will give back to Canadians their dream of having a decent home. That under his leadership, there is no mother who will serve “stained chicken” to her children again because she has no money. and so on.
The catch – because there’s always when it’s too good to be true – is this. The cost of living is a real problem, but what he intends to do about it is less clear.
How can we think that he can fix anything when at the same time, like the good hardline conservative that he is, Pierre Poilievre promises to end the deficits and much less government intervention in the economy?
How can we tame an unbalanced market when its ideological credo is a market left as free as possible by a minimalist State?
As if one’s own sunny ways were just a smokescreen. For Justin Trudeau, repeating it mechanically, however, does not seem to be enough.
If he wants to return to the electoral arena, he should start by acting on both fronts in a more visible and sustained manner. Because time is short…
