Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre arrives for a news conference in Ottawa on April 28, 2022.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Allies of Pierre Poilievre spoke out in support of his continued leadership after the Conservative Leader lost his own seat in Monday’s election and failed to form government.
Among them was former party leader Andrew Scheer, who was forced to step down after his failure to defeat the Trudeau Liberals in the 2019 election despite winning the popular vote and increasing the party’s seat count.
Preliminary results show Mr. Poilievre outperformed Mr. Scheer in the popular vote, and even bested former prime minister Stephen Harper’s popular support when the party last won a majority in 2011.
But the Tories still finished behind the Liberals on Monday.
In posts to social media, Mr. Scheer said Mr. Poilievre “ran an incredible campaign” and won new seats for the party across the country. Mr. Scheer was re-elected as the MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle.
“His inspirational leadership has brought more people into the Conservative movement,” he wrote.
“His continued leadership will ensure we finish the job next time.”
Mr. Poilievre’s campaign did not return requests for comment on Tuesday.
When Parliament resumes, his MPs will have the choice to use a piece of legislation called the Reform Act to give themselves the power to remove him as leader. Also, because he failed to win government, Mr. Poilievre faces a leadership review at the next party convention.
In his speech to supporters early Tuesday morning, Mr. Poilievre signalled he wants to stay.
“It will be an honour to continue to fight for you and to be a champion of your cause as we go forward.”
Conservative MPs used the Reform Act to vote out Mr. Scheer’s successor, Erin O’Toole after he failed to form government in the 2021 election, though he won the popular vote.
Mr. O’Toole had no comment on Mr. Poilievre’s future prospects on Tuesday.
Conservative Shannon Stubbs also voiced her support for Mr. Poilievre on Tuesday. She was among the MPs calling for a review of Mr. O’Toole’s leadership after the 2021 campaign. Ms. Stubbs was re-elected as the MP for the Alberta riding of Lakeland on Monday.
She praised Mr. Poilievre’s “consistent principles” and the work he did to broaden the party’s base of support.
“You have given a powerful voice to people who have been left behind, ignored, attacked, or hurt, and who are losing faith in government and institutions in so many ways,” she wrote on social media.
“I look forward to working with you and our growing Conservative team for your vision of a free, secure Canada – where anyone can work hard, play by the rules, find a nice home in a safe neighbourhood, and follow their dreams.”
Other senior Conservatives, including former cabinet ministers Jason Kenney, James Moore and former interim party leader Rona Ambrose, defended Mr. Poilievre’s ability to stay on as leader as the results were rolling in on Monday night and into Tuesday morning.
Under Mr. Poilievre, the Conservatives won 25 more seats than they held in the last, smaller Parliament. They include pick-ups from the New Democrats in Windsor, Ont., and parts of B.C.
But they also lost seats such as Kelowna, a B.C. riding they held from 2004 to 2015 and since 2019.
Perhaps the biggest loss for Mr. Poilievre was his own riding of Carleton, which he has held since 2004.
He made no mention of it in his remarks early Tuesday morning.
Preliminary vote totals show the Liberals won the riding with 43,900 votes to Mr. Poilievre’s 39,585, which is still more votes than he won in the riding in 2021.
The NDP came in third with 1,222. In 2021, the party won 8,164 votes in that riding. Its collapse Monday night there was indicative of a broader national collapse in fortunes. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also lost his seat, and said he will resign.
Though the Conservatives will be the Official Opposition in the next Parliament, without a seat Mr. Poilievre cannot take his place as Opposition Leader in the House.
When Brian Mulroney became Progressive Conservative Party Leader in 1983, he didn’t have a seat, so long-time PC MP Elmer MacKay stepped away from his Central Nova riding to let Mr. Mulroney run there in a by-election.
Mr. Mulroney became prime minister in the next election, winning 43.02 per cent of the vote – still the highest share on record for a modern federal conservative party.
The only Conservative re-elected in Nova Scotia, Chris d’Entremont, told CBC’s As It Happens the Conservative caucus ought to meet and decide next steps.
“It’s going to be difficult to question or keep government to account from outside of the House of Commons,” Mr. d’Entremont said.
“Is it going in, finding another riding somewhere in Canada and calling a by-election? I don’t think that’s fair, I believe, for the person that just ran for a year, trying to get elected in their area, but that’s a discussion we need to have as a caucus.”
