CALGARY – Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre delivered a defining address to party faithful on Friday, framing national unity as paramount while confronting growing separatist sentiments in Alberta and Quebec. Speaking before a consequential leadership review vote, Poilievre invoked Lincoln’s historic warning that “a house divided cannot stand” as he outlined his vision for a cohesive Canada.
The address came amid significant political challenges for Poilievre, who lost both the 2025 general election to Mark Carney’s Liberals and his own parliamentary seat after two decades in office. Despite these setbacks, the Conservative leader received strong support from delegates at the Calgary convention, where he positioned affordability concerns and crime reduction as central pillars of his platform.
Poilievre’s speech directly addressed the escalating separatist movements in Conservative strongholds. In Alberta, grassroots activists are gathering signatures for an independence referendum, while in Quebec, the sovereignist Parti Québécois leads polls ahead of provincial elections. The Conservative leader attributed these centrifugal forces to Liberal policies that have allegedly eroded hope in the federation.
The leadership review, automatically triggered after the party’s election defeat, represents Poilievre’s most significant political test since assuming leadership. His supporters point to historic gains under his guidance, including a record 41% popular vote share in the last election and remarkable success with younger voters concerned about housing affordability and cost-of-living issues.
However, challenges persist. Recent defections of Conservative MPs to Carney’s centrist Liberal camp have raised questions about party unity, while Poilievre struggles with personal popularity—surveys indicate over half of Canadians view him negatively, citing an overly combative tone. His ambiguous stance toward U.S. President Donald Trump, whose tariffs and “51st state” rhetoric alarm many Canadians, remains another vulnerability.
Current polling shows Conservatives trailing Liberals by nine points, according to recent Léger data. The leadership vote, conducted by constituency delegates immediately following Poilievre’s speech, will determine whether he maintains command to lead the party into the next electoral contest.