Ottawa : Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is shifting his campaign focus to Quebec this week, aiming to claw back support as the Liberals widen their lead in national polls. With the April 28 election looming, the Conservatives—once poised for a landslide victory—are now trailing at 36-39%, a stark contrast to their 44.8% peak in January, according to CBC polling averages.
Poilievre’s “Canada First, For a Change” slogan debuted in Quebec earlier this month, where he criticized a “lost Liberal decade” and promised tax cuts and resource development. However, Trump’s aggressive rhetoric, including a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and threats of annexation, has disrupted the Conservative narrative, which had centered on domestic affordability issues like housing and grocery costs. Experts suggest Poilievre’s alignment with populist themes risks linking him too closely to Trump, alienating moderate voters.
Quebec, with its 78 ridings, could prove pivotal. The Bloc Québécois, led by Yves-François Blanchet, remains a wild card, polling at around 6% nationally but with concentrated strength in the province. Poilievre’s challenge is to convince Quebecers that his party can protect Canadian sovereignty while addressing their economic concerns—a tall order with just four weeks left.
