Leadership demands accountability, and Poilievre has failed that test by refusing to accept the voter’s will. His party’s loss and his personal defeat were not accidents — they were verdicts by the voters of Carleton, who knew him best after 21 years as their MP and sent him packing.
By Fareed Khan
The Canadian electorate has spoken, and their message to Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre could not be clearer. It’s time to go. Your career of becoming an extremely privileged elite and a multi-millionaire off the public dime is over.
In the recent federal election, the Conservatives suffered a decisive defeat, and Poilievre lost his own Carleton riding seat he had held for over two decades by a substantial margin. This was no mere stumble. It was a resounding rejection by the voters who knew him best. Yet, like a performer who ignores the curtain call, Poilievre refuses to leave the political stage. He should take the hint from the more than 58% of Canadian voters who voted for other parties, rather than try to rise like a very flawed phoenix from a flaming dung heap. It’s time for him to step aside and let Canada move forward without his relentless, useless noise.
Watching Poilievre’s recent press conference, following the swearing in of Mark Carney’s new cabinet, was like witnessing a political ghost haunting a stage on which he no longer belongs. Despite his electoral ousting, he strode to the podium with the audacity of someone who still believes he’s calling the shots. His party is in disarray, his leadership is in question, and yet he is plotting a comeback via an Alberta by-election in a seat where a cardboard box with a Conservative Party sticker could be elected. That reeks of desperation. This is not a display of resilience. It’s denial. He refuses to accept that Canadians didn’t just vote against his party — they voted against him. The path forward doesn’t involve a dramatic resurrection. It requires Poilievre to accept reality and retire from the spotlight.
The absurdity of his current position is almost comical. With Poilievre no longer an MP, the Conservatives have tapped Andrew Scheer as interim Conservative leader while Parliament is in session. Yes that Andrew Scheer — the former Conservative leader who lost the 2019 election to Justin Trudeau. The setup feels like a poorly scripted political farce, with Scheer as the understudy nobody asked for and Poilievre lurking in the wings, refusing to relinquish the starring role. If Scheer is the temporary fix, it’s akin to swapping out a broken appliance with one that’s barely functional. Canadians deserve better than this chaotic charade.
Poilievre’s refusal to fade quietly is matched only by his predictable rhetoric. At his press conference, he leaned into his trademark style — soft-spoken indignation paired with a relentless narrative that everything is irreparably broken — Canada, the government, perhaps the laws of physics.
His attacks on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly formed cabinet were less a critique than a tantrum, the kind thrown by someone who wasn’t invited to the table and decides to shout from the sidelines. Carney’s cabinet, while not flawless, reflects the challenge of balancing regional interests, gender equity, and expertise — a grown-up approach to governance. Poilievre, by contrast, offers only grievances, mistaking volume for vision.
What’s particularly galling is Poilievre’s failure to acknowledge the courtesy extended to him by Carney. The Prime Minister has pledged to call the Alberta by-election as soon as legally possible, a gesture that goes beyond obligation. By law, Carney could delay the process for months, but he’s chosen the high road. Poilievre’s response? Not a word of gratitude, not a moment of humility — just more complaints. Incidentally, this by-election comes with a price tag of between $1.6 to $2 million, footed by Canadian taxpayers to fuel Poilievre’s ego-driven comeback. The least he could do is show some respect for the public’s tax dollars. It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars plain and simple but you will never hear Poilievre admit that.
And yet, Poilievre carries on as if nothing has changed. He remains ensconced in Stornoway, the official residence of the (elected) opposition leader, acting as though his mandate is intact. His refusal to step back, even temporarily, is an affront to the democratic will. Canada needs leaders who build, not performers who cling to faded relevance. Poilievre’s insistence on dominating the conversation with his tired talking points — everything is broken, everyone is wrong — only deepens the exhaustion Canadians feel toward him.
Imagine if Poilievre chose to take a different path. Picture him stepping away, even for a season, to reflect, recharge, or pursue something, anything, outside the political echo chamber he has lived in for his entire career. He could find a lucrative job in the private sector, write a book, or, frankly, take up woodworking. Instead, he has doubling down, banking on an Alberta by-election to catapult him back into Parliament. If he succeeds, we can already envision the inevitable photo ops — Poilievre alongside his number one fan, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, striding through canola fields in a staged attempt at relatability. It’s not leadership, it’s a performance, and Canadians are tired of the show.
Leadership demands accountability, and Poilievre has failed that test by refusing to accept the voter’s will. His party’s loss and his personal defeat were not accidents — they were verdicts by the voters of Carleton, who knew him best after 21 years as their MP and sent him packing. The broader electorate rejected his divisive tactics and defeatist rhetoric about the state of the nation. Clinging to the microphone not only undermines the democratic process he claims to champion, but also shows him refusing to accept the democratic verdict an overwhelming majority of Canadians delivered to him and his party.
Mark Carney, ever the pragmatist, is focused on governing — making practical decisions to move Canada forward. Poilievre, by contrast, remains unelected, uninvited, and unrelentingly loud. His presence is a distraction and serves no positive purpose. The most patriotic and sensible act he could perform right now is to step back, silence his megaphone, and let Canada heal from the divisiveness he’s fuelled.
It’s time for Pierre Poilievre to read the room. The stage is no longer his. For the sake of the country, he must exit — quietly, decisively, and for good.
Watching Poilievre’s recent press conference, following the swearing in of Mark Carney’s new cabinet, was like witnessing a political ghost haunting a stage on which he no longer belongs. Despite his electoral ousting, he strode to the podium with the audacity of someone who still believes he’s calling the shots. His party is in disarray, his leadership is in question, and yet he is plotting a comeback via an Alberta by-election in a seat where a cardboard box with a Conservative Party sticker could be elected. That reeks of desperation. This is not a display of resilience. It’s denial. He refuses to accept that Canadians didn’t just vote against his party — they voted against him. The path forward doesn’t involve a dramatic resurrection. It requires Poilievre to accept reality and retire from the spotlight.
The absurdity of his current position is almost comical. With Poilievre no longer an MP, the Conservatives have tapped Andrew Scheer as interim Conservative leader while Parliament is in session. Yes that Andrew Scheer — the former Conservative leader who lost the 2019 election to Justin Trudeau. The setup feels like a poorly scripted political farce, with Scheer as the understudy nobody asked for and Poilievre lurking in the wings, refusing to relinquish the starring role. If Scheer is the temporary fix, it’s akin to swapping out a broken appliance with one that’s barely functional. Canadians deserve better than this chaotic charade.
Poilievre’s refusal to fade quietly is matched only by his predictable rhetoric. At his press conference, he leaned into his trademark style — soft-spoken indignation paired with a relentless narrative that everything is irreparably broken — Canada, the government, perhaps the laws of physics.
His attacks on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly formed cabinet were less a critique than a tantrum, the kind thrown by someone who wasn’t invited to the table and decides to shout from the sidelines. Carney’s cabinet, while not flawless, reflects the challenge of balancing regional interests, gender equity, and expertise — a grown-up approach to governance. Poilievre, by contrast, offers only grievances, mistaking volume for vision.
What’s particularly galling is Poilievre’s failure to acknowledge the courtesy extended to him by Carney. The Prime Minister has pledged to call the Alberta by-election as soon as legally possible, a gesture that goes beyond obligation. By law, Carney could delay the process for months, but he’s chosen the high road. Poilievre’s response? Not a word of gratitude, not a moment of humility — just more complaints. Incidentally, this by-election comes with a price tag of between $1.6 to $2 million, footed by Canadian taxpayers to fuel Poilievre’s ego-driven comeback. The least he could do is show some respect for the public’s tax dollars. It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars plain and simple but you will never hear Poilievre admit that.
And yet, Poilievre carries on as if nothing has changed. He remains ensconced in Stornoway, the official residence of the (elected) opposition leader, acting as though his mandate is intact. His refusal to step back, even temporarily, is an affront to the democratic will. Canada needs leaders who build, not performers who cling to faded relevance. Poilievre’s insistence on dominating the conversation with his tired talking points — everything is broken, everyone is wrong — only deepens the exhaustion Canadians feel toward him.
Imagine if Poilievre chose to take a different path. Picture him stepping away, even for a season, to reflect, recharge, or pursue something, anything, outside the political echo chamber he has lived in for his entire career. He could find a lucrative job in the private sector, write a book, or, frankly, take up woodworking. Instead, he has doubling down, banking on an Alberta by-election to catapult him back into Parliament. If he succeeds, we can already envision the inevitable photo ops — Poilievre alongside his number one fan, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, striding through canola fields in a staged attempt at relatability. It’s not leadership, it’s a performance, and Canadians are tired of the show.
Leadership demands accountability, and Poilievre has failed that test by refusing to accept the voter’s will. His party’s loss and his personal defeat were not accidents — they were verdicts by the voters of Carleton, who knew him best after 21 years as their MP and sent him packing. The broader electorate rejected his divisive tactics and defeatist rhetoric about the state of the nation. Clinging to the microphone not only undermines the democratic process he claims to champion, but also shows him refusing to accept the democratic verdict an overwhelming majority of Canadians delivered to him and his party.
Mark Carney, ever the pragmatist, is focused on governing — making practical decisions to move Canada forward. Poilievre, by contrast, remains unelected, uninvited, and unrelentingly loud. His presence is a distraction and serves no positive purpose. The most patriotic and sensible act he could perform right now is to step back, silence his megaphone, and let Canada heal from the divisiveness he’s fuelled.
It’s time for Pierre Poilievre to read the room. The stage is no longer his. For the sake of the country, he must exit — quietly, decisively, and for good.
© 2025 The View From Here. © 2025 Fareed Khan. All Rights Reserved.
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