Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre secured his political future with a commanding 87.4% approval vote from party delegates, despite losing the last federal election and his own parliamentary seat to Mark Carney’s Liberals.

Strong Support Despite Electoral Defeats

The leadership review vote took place in Calgary among selected delegates representing Conservative constituencies across Canada. Party rules automatically trigger such reviews after election losses. Poilievre had lost to Liberal leader Mark Carney in April, ending his two-decade hold on his parliamentary seat. However, he later regained a seat through an Alberta by-election with over 80% voter support.

Thomas Bambrick, a Winnipeg delegate, told reporters the overwhelming vote represents a “resounding yes” for continued trust in Poilievre’s leadership. Despite recent defections of two Conservative MPs to the Liberals, party members praised his success in attracting younger voters through affordability messaging and achieving a record 41% popular vote share in the last election.

Unity Message Amid Separatist Threats

Poilievre’s hour-long speech addressed growing separatist movements in both Alberta and Quebec. Alberta activists are collecting signatures for an independence referendum, while Quebec’s sovereignist Parti Québécois leads provincial polls with promises of its own referendum. “A house divided cannot stand,” Poilievre declared, blaming Liberal policies for undermining Canadian unity and promising small government focused on “people who have felt unseen for too long.”

Challenges Ahead

The Conservative leader faces ongoing struggles with public perception, as surveys show more than half of Canadians view him negatively, citing his combative tone. He also confronts difficulties defining his party’s position on U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and rhetoric about Canadian statehood. However, supporters credit his focus on affordability, crime, and housing costs with expanding Conservative appeal, particularly among younger demographics traditionally aligned with liberal parties.