4 days Ago
Poilievre titled his submission "Building Canada Through Freedom" and filled it with libertarian gusto, saying he would "relinquish to citizens as much of my social, political, and economic control as possible." Although he did not win the competition, he was a finalist. In 1999, Pierre Poilievre, then a 20-year-old commerce student at the University of Calgary, pulled an all-nighter to enter a national essay contest with the prompt, "As prime minister, I would.
.." In 1999, Pierre Poilievre, then a 20-year-old commerce student at the University of Calgary, pulled an all-nighter to enter a national essay contest with the prompt, "As prime minister, I would.
.." Poilievre titled his submission "Building Canada Through Freedom" and filled it with libertarian gusto, saying he would "relinquish to citizens as much of my social, political, and economic control as possible.
" Although he did not win the competition, he was a finalist. More than 25 years later, Poilievre is campaigning to become prime minister for real. His pitch ahead of Canada's April 28 snap elections hasn't changed much: "Canadians can take back control of their lives and their country," he said in a video posted to X in January.
Three months ago, Poilievre's victory looked certain, but he is now watching his chances of forming a government shrink. Since U.S.
President Donald Trump took office in January, Poilievre's Conservatives have gone from holding a 20-point polling lead over the Liberals to falling several points behind. Canada is facing both tariffs and threats of annexation from the United States, its closest neighbor, ally, and trading partner. Canadians are overwhelmingly united against Trump's neo-manifest destiny and in search of a leader who is willing and capable of resisting.
Unfortunately for Poilievre, many voters perceive him as too much like Trump. Sixty percent of Canadians have an unfavorable view of Poilievre—and according to pollster Angus Reid, less than 30 percent think that..
. Justin Ling , Justin Ling.
