Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faced a challenging week as budget week unfolded for the Opposition. Typically a prime opportunity for the party to criticize government spending, Poilievre found himself in a difficult position after tabling a budget revealing a significant $78-billion deficit. Instead of celebrating, he grappled with questions about his leadership as one MP switched sides to the Liberals and another departed from federal politics.
The week’s events, as per sources and public records, began with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meetings with MPs Chris d’Entremont and Matt Jeneroux. D’Entremont ultimately decided to join the Liberal Party, while Jeneroux was rumored to be considering defecting but later announced his resignation from Parliament.
On budget day, news broke of D’Entremont’s potential floor crossing, causing a flurry of activity to confirm the story. Eventually, D’Entremont confirmed his move to the Liberal caucus, citing thoughtful deliberation with constituents. The departure sparked reactions within the Conservative ranks, with speculations of more MPs following suit.
D’Entremont’s subsequent appearance with Carney as a Liberal highlighted his dissatisfaction with Poilievre’s leadership style. He hinted at others possibly joining him in switching parties, indicating underlying discontent within the Conservative caucus. Meanwhile, Jeneroux’s resignation added to the tumult, with Poilievre thanking him for his service amid growing internal tensions.
As the week progressed, the Conservatives attempted damage control, with Scheer accusing the Liberals of undemocratic tactics. Despite surviving confidence votes, the party faced uncertainties about Poilievre’s leadership, with internal frustrations surfacing. The future remains uncertain as the Opposition assesses the implications of recent events on Poilievre’s leadership ahead of a key vote in the new year.