Pierre Poilievre Vows to Put Canada First as He Stumps for Leadership at London Rally

In a fiery address before a crowd of around 2,500 supporters at RBC Place London on Sunday, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre made it clear that his primary focus, should he become prime minister, would be placing Canada’s interests above all else. The rally, which took place just hours before Mark Carney was set to announce his bid for Liberal leader and, by extension, prime minister, seemed poised to mark the beginning of a heated electoral race.

With a clear eye on Carney, Poilievre didn’t mince words in his criticism of the former Bank of Canada governor and economic advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Branding Carney as a “globalist and elitist,” Poilievre targeted his financial connections, vowing that a Carney-led Canada would compromise the country’s sovereignty and working-class Canadians. “Make no mistake, Donald Trump will have a big smile on his face as he exploits all of Carney’s many conflicts to attack Canadian workers and Canadian jobs,” Poilievre asserted, before pledging that under his leadership, “we Conservatives won’t let either of them do that – we will put Canada first.”

While Carney was the primary target of Poilievre’s rhetoric, the Conservative leader refrained from mentioning the other potential Liberal contenders: Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, and Frank Baylis. By focusing squarely on Carney, Poilievre was positioning himself for a duel with a rival he views as an embodiment of the political establishment that he aims to dismantle.

Housing Crisis and Economic Rejuvenation

Poilievre’s speech wasn’t all about attacking his political adversaries, however. He also laid out his vision for addressing some of the most pressing issues facing Canadians today, particularly the housing crisis. In a proposal that aligns with his populist approach, Poilievre promised bold, action-oriented steps to reduce the cost of housing. “Not only will I take the GST off new homes, I will pressure the provinces to remove their sales taxes. We will institute major incentives for municipalities to speed up permits, free up land and cut development charges,” he declared.

By encouraging municipalities to streamline the permitting process, and calling for a “massive building boom,” Poilievre is hoping to create more job opportunities for skilled tradespeople while also addressing the shortage of affordable housing. He emphasized that his policies would bring relief to young Canadians looking to own homes, with an optimistic tone that was well-received by the crowd.

“We’re going to cause a massive building boom so we have more jobs for our trades people and more homes for our youth,” Poilievre declared, prompting the audience to break into chants of “bring it home!”

The Poilievre Family: A Personal Appeal

While Poilievre’s message was largely political, his wife, Anaida Poilievre, also took the stage to lend her support and offer a personal appeal to the audience. “Here I am standing by my husband’s side in what is a necessary fight to put Canada first,” she said. Her speech highlighted the family-oriented values that she believes make her husband a suitable leader for the country. Anaida framed leadership as something not born from “fancy degrees or fancy titles” but from a “true love of our country” – a sentiment that resonated strongly with the rally’s attendees.

A Divided Crowd

While the Poilievre rally was largely characterized by enthusiasm and support, not everyone in London shared the same view. A small group of protesters gathered outside the convention center, voicing opposition to Poilievre’s policies. Although tensions flared in a few heated exchanges, London police were present to maintain order, and no significant incidents were reported.

A Call to Action

As the rally drew to a close, Poilievre’s speech became a call to action for his supporters. “Leadership is not born from fancy degrees or fancy titles; it is not born from the boardroom of the elite,” he declared, reminding Canadians that true leadership comes from a commitment to the country’s future.

With a focus on rebuilding the nation’s economy and housing market, Poilievre’s campaign message echoed his rallying cry: “That hard work gets you a great life in a beautiful house on a safe street, wrapped in the protective arms of solid borders and brave troops under a proud flag. Canada, let’s bring it home.”

As the potential election looms, it is clear that Poilievre’s rhetoric is designed to position himself as a strong, populist alternative to what he views as an entrenched political establishment. With a fight for leadership within his own party now well underway, and with a clear target in Mark Carney, the coming months will be critical in shaping the political landscape of Canada.