A week is a long time in politics.
On Monday November 3rd – the day before federal Budget Day — Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s position seemed to be secure. By all accounts, he was sailing to a resounding vote of confidence at his party’s convention in January.
Then, in the blink of an eye, his Conservative caucus descended into chaos and now looks to be on the verge of imploding.
On Tuesday, November 4th — the same day the Carney government was presenting its first budget — Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont crossed the floor to join the Liberals. A self-described Red Tory, he could no longer stomach the extreme right-wing Trumpian rhetoric Pierre Poilievre continues to spew.
In his press conference, d’Entremont said it was time to stop putting Canada down. It was a clear reference to Poilievre’s style, an impression he reinforced by specifically criticizing Poilievre’s negative approach to politics. In a later interview, d’Entremont said the Conservatives felt like ‘part of a frat house rather than a serious political party’ and that his decision was finalized after Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer and party whip Chris Warkentin “barged” into his office, yelling at him and calling him a snake.
Then, on Thursday November 6th, Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux announced his resignation from Parliament. Rumours had been swirling for days that Jeneroux would join d’Entremont in crossing the floor. Instead, he announced his exit from politics.
Many news outlets soon reported that some Conservatives had threatened to make Jeneroux’s life miserable if he joined the Liberals, and as a result, he changed his mind at the last minute, choosing to leave Parliament rather than crossing the floor. Jeneroux later denied that coercion was involved in his decision, although the late timing of this denial raised questions about its accuracy.
What should have been a week of Conservative opportunities to oppose and criticize the Liberal budget instead turned into a week of damage control. Poilievre appeared so flustered after d’Entremont’s defection that while making the Official Opposition’s first response to the budget, he forgot to move the traditional opposition budget amendment.
Attempts at damage control by the Conservatives have been mostly unsuccessful as reports continue to surface of internal strife within the party and bullying tactics used by Poilievre and his inner circle to control party members.
Poilievre has only himself to blame for his ongoing problems. Despite losing the 2025 election and being urged by Conservative insiders to change his approach, he has continued to emulate U.S. President Donald Trump, spouting hostile rhetoric and promoting Maple Maga positions.
It became clear to many that Poilievre would never change when during an appearance on YouTube channel Northern Perspective, he accused the RCMP of covering up criminal behaviour by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling RCMP leadership “despicable” and saying that Trudeau should have been criminally charged.
This added to the growing realization within the Conservative caucus — which Poilievre has now confirmed — that he will not reconsider his leadership style. Many now believe that he does not have what it takes to win the next federal election. His soundbite attack dog style may have been just what the doctor ordered when Justin Trudeau was Prime Minister, but this style of bitter politics will not work against Carney.
Despite potential voters currently favouring Poilievre as Conservative leader over other alternatives, it’s hard to see how he can retain party support for long. It seems to have escaped Poilievre and his supporters that Donald Trump’s unjustified tariff war and threats to Canadian sovereignty have completely changed the political landscape. Polls continue to show that voters want the adult, competent leadership of Mark Carney and that they dislike Poilievre.
It is now rumoured and confirmed by some journalists, without naming names, that more Conservative MPs are seriously considering leaving the party. With just two more defections from the Conservatives to the Liberals, Mark Carney will have a majority government. If this happens, Conservative MPs will despondently realize that they will likely have a long wait in opposition until the next federal election, which will probably not occur until 2029.
The next few weeks may well determine whether or not Pierre Poilievre’s days as leader of the Conservative Party are numbered. I think the real question is when he will go, not if.
Daily atmospheric CO2 [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]
Latest daily total (November 13, 2025): 426.83ppm
One year ago (November 13, 2024): 423.52ppm
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