Poilievre's rally-style Conservative convention speech, as it happened
A year after his decisive first-ballot leadership victory coming in as members' first choice in nearly every riding across the country, Pierre Poilievre delivered a rally-style speech at the Conservative convention aimed at pushing his "common sense" message beyond the base, to the broader public.
So far this weekend, buoyed by positive polling numbers and a growing list of prominent party members proclaiming he'll be Canada's next prime minister, party unity seems to be holding strong, even as some contentious issues are back on party members' priority lists.
Tonight, Poilievre angled to fire up the most faithful Conservatives in a similar way as he's sought to do during his "axe the tax" cross-Canada rallies this summer. Tonight's setup was much the same, with supporters gathered behind him on stage and waving party signage from the audience.
He was introduced by his wife Anaida Poilievre, as she's done as part of a massive advertising campaign appearing on voters' televisions and phone screens for the last month.
In advance of his address, his office released to media a trio of excerpts from the speech, including lines seeking to frame the next election as a binary choice between: "A common-sense Conservative government" that frees people and makes life more affordable and safe, or "a reckless coalition of Trudeau and the NDP†that will tax you and release "crime and chaos in your neighbourhood."
Here's a minute-by-minute recap of Poilievre's big speech at the 2023 Conservative convention.
7:47 p.m.: After an hour, Poilievre wraps his speech by painting a very rosy picture of a country he'd build. Ladies and gentlemen, that is what bring it home means. These are our people. They are our country. This our home, let's bring it home, he ends with major cheers.
7:40 p.m.: Crime and justice phase of his rally speech. Poilievre goes on "jail not bail," calls out Trudeau's Bill C-21 and says it's not law-abiding hunters that are shooting up neighbourhoods. Also speaks about the need to support the military and re-build it with money from the backroom bureaucracy. Also vows to repeal Trudeau "censorship" bills. He's referring to online streaming and online news acts.
7:35 p.m.: The choice is between Trudeau’s "costly coalition and my common-sense plan," Poilievre restates. They choose taxes, I choose technology. Expect to hear more of this message, too.
7:30 p.m.: Going over Trudeau gov't energy and climate policies, Poilievre claims they have "done nothing" for the environment, and so he plans to scrap most of them. We will massively increase Canadian production of emissions-free energy by green-lighting green projects, carbon capture and storage to make our oilsands the world’s lowest-emitting. "We will approve more hydro dams and tidal wave power to turn water and gravity into lighting," he promises.
7:25 p.m.: Every time a worker turns around, he is punished for doing the right thing. You make it, Trudeau takes it. Oh, you took an extra shift, they clawback your child benefit. You get a bonus, he bumps you into the next tax bracket and takes away your reward, Poilievre says. It's not just a matter of money but a matter of hope. Humans need to progress towards an achievable goal.
7:18 p.m.: Poilievre talks about how balancing the budget has been a longstanding policy goal of every major party at every level of government, citing past prime ministers both Liberals and Conservative, before vowing he'll do the same. No timeline though on how long it would take to pay down the current deficit.
7:14 p.m.: We're into the 'here's what we'll do' part of the speech. Promises include: scrapping the Asian infrastructure bank, the ArriveCan app, and bonuses for government executives.
7:09 p.m.: After talking "axe the carbon tax" Poilievre says there is a second tax that he will axe: "the inflation tax." This is not a government policy. He is broadly describing the rising cost of living, which he blames on government spending. "It is the worst tax, because it is sneaky," he also calls it a "silent" theft that picks the pockets of the poor. Also expect to hear more about the "inflation tax" as QP gets going again in a few weeks.
7:05 p.m.: Canadians are not small or angry, they are big and generous and deserve better, Poilievre said. Re-states a line he's said before: Trudeau is not worth the cost. Expect to keep hearing this one.
7:01 p.m.: Looks like Trudeau isn't the only federal politician making callouts to young people. On the heels of his post-caucus message to millenials, Poilievre says eight years ago, at their high school graduations their eyes beamed with possibility, now their eyes have heavy bags under them as they deliver UberEats as a third job. The youth aren’t angry, they are too exhausted to be angry, he said.
7:00 p.m.: We're into the anecdotal phase of the speech, Poilievre gets a bit angry talking about some of the Canadians he said he met while on the road this summer who are facing considerable hardships, from finding themselves unable to afford their homes, to having to ask to move in with family. Poilievre said he was angry for them.
6:54 p.m.: Trudeau and I agree things are broken, Poilievre says, we just disagree on what and who broke it. What kind of prime minister says his country is not the best after he's been leading it for 8 years? He asks. Some context: Trudeau has said that he thinks Canada is the best country, and wants to make it better, has slammed Poilievre's 'Canada is broken' rhetoric.
6:50 p.m.: Think back to when Trudeau was elected in 2015, Poilievre said, described it as a strong time for the economy, with a balanced budget, for which he thanks former Conservative PM Stephen Harper. When Trudeau took over, Canada was "rich, affordable, and safe." But eight years later... Poilievre goes on.
6:47 p.m.: Poilievre says the promise of Canada has always been that every generation is a little bit better off than their parents, but that's a promise Trudeau has broken and Poilievre vows if elected, he would restore it so a kid that starts anywhere can get anywhere.
6:45 p.m.: Poilievre gets emotional in thanking his adoptive parents, looks to the crowd and thanks his mom.
6:43 p.m.: The day I knew she was the one was when we were driving back to Ottawa... Poilievre starts into an anecdote about how she repaired their under-engine cover with a hair elastic in the dead of winter.
6:41 p.m.: The couple kisses several times before the crowd begins chanting "bring it home," one of Poilievre's main slogans. Poilievre begins speaking, in French.
6:40 p.m.: Anaida introduces Poilievre, he takes the stage to campaign-style instrumentals and the crowd is on their feet as he makes his way through, to the podium specially set-up for his remarks, in the middle of the convention centre main hall.
6:35 p.m.: The job ahead is great, Anaida says. Most of you get to watch my husband in the thick of it, I get to watch him behind the scenes. She describes his nit-picking over details in his home office. She said the Pierre people see, represent hours of him diving into the issue to understand it fully first. That's how he predicted the painful inflation people are feeling today, she suggests.
6:32 p.m.: It is when people are most distressed that they need leadership, Anaida said. When someone shows you pain or fear, it is not the time to turn your back on them, she said to applause.
6:30 p.m.: Nearly one year ago it was my opportunity to introduce myself to you, too, Anaida says. She's referencing the very personal and detailed introduction she made when Poilievre won the leadership. That speech was in Ottawa. She's expanding on it now, sharing her family's experience and sacrifices, notes her brother is in the audience.
6:25 p.m.: After some waiting, Poilievre's wife Anaida took the stage, introducing her husband in French first, a communications strategy the Conservative leader has also followed in his speeches, even in question period in the House of Commons, it's French first.
6:05 p.m.: The room is packed, the weekend gathering in Quebec City is being billed as the biggest in-person convention the party has had in its history. Classic rock music plays as the crowd is told to take their seats as Poilievre is about to take the stage.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
NEW Health data collected from Indigenous Peoples in Canada has a dark history. One Indigenous company is turning that around
Software company Mustimuhw Information, which develops medical records systems built on a foundation of Indigenous traditions and values, is allowing health providers to capture data informed by cultural practices.
Hezbollah handed out pagers hours before blasts, even after checks: Reuters
Lebanon's Hezbollah was still handing its members new Gold Apollo branded pagers hours before thousands blew up this week, two security sources said, indicating the group was confident the devices were safe despite an ongoing sweep of electronic kit to identify threats.
Cognitive decline reduced by MIND diet, especially for women and Black people, study finds
Following the MIND diet for 10 years produced a small but significant decrease in the risk of developing thinking, concentration and memory problems, a new study found.
The province's public security minister said he was "shocked" Thursday amid reports that a body believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy was found this week near a Hells Angels hideout near Quebec City.
An Ontario man says it is 'unfair' to pay a $1,500 insurance surcharge because his four-year-old SUV is at a higher risk of being stolen.
Federal firearm buyback program has cost $67M, still not collecting guns after 4 years
The federal firearm buyback program has cost taxpayers nearly $67.2 million since it was announced in 2020, but it still hasn't collected a single gun.
No, these viral purple apples don't exist in Saskatchewan
If something looks too good to be true, it might be. That's the message from Saskatchewan horticulturists after customers have come into their stores hoping to buy purple apple trees this month.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has lost 205 firearms since 2020, including machine-guns
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has lost 205 firearms since 2020, including more than 120 handguns and at least five fully automatic weapons like machine-guns.
Influencer couple denies leaving kids alone on cruise
For most people, dinner on a cruise ship is a time to relax. But when influencer couple Abby and Matt Howard decided to kick back with a dinner à deux, they ended up kicking up a storm.
Local Spotlight
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.
It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.
A Good Samaritan in New Brunswick has replaced a man's stolen bottle cart so he can continue to collect cans and bottles in his Moncton neighbourhood.
David Krumholtz, known for roles like Bernard the Elf in The Santa Clause and physicist Isidor Rabi in Oppenheimer, has spent the latter part of his summer filming horror flick Altar in Winnipeg. He says Winnipeg is the most movie-savvy town he's ever been in.
Edmontonians can count themselves lucky to ever see one tiger salamander, let alone the thousands one local woman says recently descended on her childhood home.
A daytrip to the backcountry turned into a frightening experience for a Vancouver couple this weekend.