On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters that the vision put forward by opposition leader Pierre Poilievre “doesn’t make sense.” He criticized Poilievre’s approach to key issues, particularly climate change. “Stopping the fight against climate change doesn’t make sense,” Trudeau said during a news conference in Ottawa. “We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future. And Pierre Poilievre is not offering that.”
Trudeau’s remarks came shortly before he announced his decision to resign as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, a move triggered by ongoing political challenges. His resignation comes as the Liberal Party faces the likelihood of losing to the opposition Conservative Party, which Poilievre leads, in the upcoming general election.
In response to Trudeau’s resignation, Poilievre doubled down on his platform, advocating for lower taxes and stricter immigration policies, referring to the current period as a “dark chapter in our history.” In a video posted on X, he outlined his vision for the future: “Canadians can take back control of their lives and their country. Take back control of our border. Take back control of immigration. Take back control of spending, deficits, and inflation.”
Poilievre continued, emphasizing his plans to “cap spending, axe taxes, reward work, build homes, uphold family, stop crime, secure borders, rearm our forces, restore our freedom and put Canada first.” His rhetoric resonates with a growing segment of the population, and he has gained support from prominent international figures, including Elon Musk, who supported Trump’s 2016 election campaign. Poilievre’s leadership continues to gain traction in national polling, giving him a significant lead over the Liberal Party.