The six confirmed federal Conservative leadership candidates shared a stage for the first time Sunday in the GTA, where promises to tackle the affordability crisis, scrap the carbon tax and end vaccine mandates drew cheers.
At the sold-out event organized by seven Toronto-area riding associations, leadership hopefuls Scott Aitchison, Roman Baber, Patrick Brown, Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis and Pierre Poilievre each gave a six-minute pitch to an audience of around 1,000 at the Burlington Convention Centre.
While Charest played up his fiscal conservatism and record as former Quebec premier, and Lewis pledged to be a “bridge builder” for a “country in need of healing,” it was clear who most of the crowd was there to see.
As the six candidates entered the room to bagpipes playing in the background, the crowd was already cheering for “Pierre.” Dozens in the audience were waving signs handed out by the Carleton MP’s team, giving the impression at times that the event was not a multi-candidate meet-and-greet but a rally for Poilievre himself.
When he finished speaking, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, one woman shouting, “I love you, Pierre!”
Poilievre’s central message that he is running to restore Canadians’ “freedom” — from vaccine mandates, from “government-induced” inflation, from climbing real estate prices — was echoed by many of his rivals.
Lewis, a socially conservative MP for Haldimand-Norfolk who placed third in the 2020 leadership race, pledged to “restore Canada to prosperity” and make it “glorious and free again.”
“It’s time to end all mandates and bring respect back to politics,” said Aitchison, MP for Parry Sound—Muskoka.
Brown, the Brampton mayor and former leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives, pledged to lean into the “Canadian dream,” saying, “If you work hard, you can achieve anything in this country.”
Charest set himself apart with a speech focused on Canada’s role on the global stage and his own record leading Quebec as a fiscal conservative, not once mentioning divisive pandemic health measures.
When later asked by the Star why he had avoided the topic, Charest said, “The big issue here is the future of the country … I’m very much on the economy in this campaign,” adding that six minutes isn’t a lot of time.
Charest and Brown were the only ones to acknowledge the challenge the Conservatives face in the Greater Toronto Area: a crucial battleground for electoral success that the Liberals have dominated in the past three elections.
“We have seven ridings out of 57 in the GTA,” Charest said. “I will be a leader that will unite the party, but most of all, elect a national, Conservative government.”
Sajid Anjul, an Oakville man who was at the event with his teenage daughter Sidra, said Charest’s track record in politics, as a former federal Progressive Conservative leader and one-time premier of Quebec, proves he can get the job done.
“I have a plan.” Poilievre, Anjul worries, is too close to former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, “which we rejected.”
But Charest’s degrees of separation from the zeitgeist of the current Conservative party were on display when he mistakenly referred to Baber — the divisive Ontario MPP who was booted from the Progressive Conservative caucus for opposing COVID-19 health measures — as “Ron,” prompting a laugh between Baber and Poilievre. (Baber later corrected Charest: “It’s Roman, not Ron.”)
Baber has been most steadfast among the candidates in his opposition to vaccine mandates, a stance that cost him his party affiliation. He reminded the crowd of this, throwing a dig at Poilievre when he said, “Why did you not stand up for Canadians before the truckers convoy?”
The dynamic among the politicians was otherwise cordial, with each taking the time to clap and shake the hands of the others after they spoke. Brown devoted the beginning of his speech to running through the accomplishments of his rivals as a testament to the “strength of the Conservative family in this country.”
After the speeches finished and the candidates went to their respective tables for a meet-and-greet, a line quickly formed behind Poilievre, stretching half the length of the room, as dozens waited for their turn to meet him. Only a handful of people huddled around Charest and the others at any given time.
Poilievre supporters who spoke to the Star said they appreciate his directness and believe he’s unlikely to change his views when pressed.
“I am so glad that he stands up for being a Conservative,” said Kathy Whiteway, a retired nurse from Oakville. The past couple of leaders have been “weak,” she said, referring to former leader Erin O’Toole’s flip-flop on “assault-style” weapons during last year’s election campaign. Whiteway said she won’t vote if Charest wins.
Others said Poilievre is “down to earth” and relatable, in tune with the needs of everyday Canadians. “He knows how tough things are right now,” said Cathy Anthony, who lives in the Georgetown area.
If Sunday’s event is any indication, the other candidates face an uphill battle to match Poilievre’s popular support.
Only Conservative members can vote in the leadership contest. Candidates have until June 3 to sign up new members, who can pay a $15 fee to join the party for a year. But getting them to vote will be its own challenge. Just over 64 per cent of eligible members voted in the 2020 race that crowned O’Toole, and that set a record for voter turnout. The new leader will be announced on Sept. 10.
The candidates meet again this week in Ottawa, where they will participate at the Canada Strong and Free debate on Thursday.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free)