A character in tune with the times. In the air of this radical, conservative right, with libertarian and anti-woke leanings, willingly outrageous and provocative, which has a new figure on the verge of coming to power: the Canadian Pierre Poilievre.
Since the announced resignation of Justin Trudeau, the 45-year-old leader of the Canadian Conservative Party is the big favorite in the early federal elections which must be held before next fall. In form, it is easy to see Pierre Poilievre as an ersatz Donald Trump. But he seems to stand out from the background of the elected American president, particularly on the question of immigration, even if “it is often difficult to know what he really thinks beyond the slogans he repeats”, notes the Canadian political scientist Charles-Etienne Beaudry, teacher at the University of Ottawa and author of Radio Trump: How he won the first time (independent publication, 2024)
Slogans like “Axe the tax”, “Canada first”, “Spike the hike” (against the carbon tax), “cut the aid” regularly punctuate speeches. by Pierre Poilievre, which he likes to conclude with an invocation of “common sense” in a “clearly Trumpist rhetorical culture”, understands Charles-Etienne Beaudry.
Speeches that he reserves above all “for an alternative ultra-right media ecosystem with conspiratorial tendencies”, continues the academic. Who notes that his first interview of 2025 was broadcast by Canadian podcaster Jordan Petterson, known for his pro-life and anti-vax positions, in particular. “Poilievre has organic ties to the American conspiracy ecosystem that supports and praises Trump, like podcasters Joe Reagan or Alex Jones.” In this area, therefore, the parallel with Donald Trump seems obvious. “Electorally, the Trump base is the same as that of Poilievre,” adds Charles-Etienne Beaudry.
Twenty years in politics and positions still unclear
However, Pierre Poilievre was able to take a position for abortion, for maintaining marriage for all, and he was able to express pro-immigration positions while denouncing Justin Trudeau’s migration policy, keeping his intentions unclear. “He advances more masked, more gently than Trump. He can’t be a cowboy like in the United States, because Canadians don’t like that. They prefer more phlegmatic personalities,” notes the academic.
A phlegm that he was able to show in a moment that social networks love and that Elon Musk was able to validate, rewarding this publication with a flame emoji. The scene takes place in October 2023 in an orchard during a press briefing. A Canadian journalist then asked him a question about his “Trump method”. “What are you talking about?” », “Who said that? “, “I don’t understand your question”, retorts the conservative leader while biting into his apple, which at that moment seems to interest him more.
But Pierre Poilievre can also fall into excess, particularly in Parliament. He was excluded for a day – a first in Canada – after calling Justin Trudeau a “crazy”. “He has simple sentences and easy insults like Donald Trump, shares his refusal of traditional media, but it is a very quick parallel which is essentially valid for the form”, underlines Alexis Gacon, Canadian journalist who was able to follow the evolution of Pierre Poilievre. “His anti-state and anti-elite discourse is more akin to the traditional right of the western plains, in opposition to the elites of the east, than to a libertarian ideology,” he continues.
“A popular populist”
And quite unlike Trump, Pierre Poilievre was born in a working-class environment in Alberta, in the west of the country. When his mother gave birth, she was only 16 years old and gave him up for adoption. Pierre Poilievre grew up in Calgary, raised by a couple of teachers. He became involved very early in the Conservative Party and ended up being spotted by Stephen Harper, leader of the party at the time and Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. The latter inducted him into MP in 2005, before entrusting the young Pierre Poilievre, then nicknamed “Harper’s pitbull”, a few lesser ministerial portfolios.
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The fact remains that after twenty years of political presence, “we are still guessing what he thinks beyond his slogans,” notes the Canadian journalist. Who first sees in Pierre Poilievre “a marketing pro who adapts to the times and understands what works. He has an elusive side and leaves suspense on his program.”
“He’s moving forward by submarine”
“He is a populist leader, but also popular by his origins,” summarizes Charles-Etienne Beaudry. “He rose to the head of the conservative party after supporting “the convoy of truckers”, a sort of ultra-right “yellow vests”, who protested against anti-Covid measures. He appeared with them, looking like a truck driver, a worker, but he is a career politician, a deputy at 25,” reframes the academic, who is waiting to see him in power.
“At the moment, we don’t really know him yet. He advances masked, in a submarine.” A submarine which should surface during the early federal elections.
