Today’s letters: Poilievre, Conservatives must understand why they lost

Saturday, May 3: Canadians don’t support negative, attacking and insulting approaches to politics, readers say. You can write to us too, at [email protected]

Published May 03, 2025

Last updated May 03, 2025

10 minute read

Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative party, is supported by his wife Anaida as he speaks to the crowd gathered at the Rogers Centre in Ottawa following his party’s loss to the Liberals, April 28, 2025. Photo by Jean Levac /PostmediaArticle content

Time to dump your leader, Conservatives

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The election sent a very clear message to the federal Conservative party.

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Voters appreciate the recent focus on affordability, housing and crime and have shown this in their election of more Conservative members.

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However, they have no support for negative, attacking and insulting approaches and they have shown this in their rejection of Pierre Polievre.

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Instead, they chose a man who could show strength without insulting anyone. Quebec voters forgave his less than perfect French for a leader who showed civility, insight and intelligence. Can anyone imagine a Carney ad calling the opposition “those clowns?” This is, fortunately, just not the Canadian way.

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If the Conservatives want a way forward, they need to show support for Canada, not just hatred for their opponents. So, be smart and dump that negative, rude, combative “clown“ as the voters have done. Let us return to the conservatism of the style of Joe Clark and others with his positive patriotism and respect for the Canadian people and the institution of Parliament.

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We need only to look south of the border to see the havoc that is the result of negative, ego-driven power.

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We need two parties that seek our support with, perhaps, different philosophical foundations but common Canadian values of good manners, mutual respect, pragmatic patriotism and civility. We are halfway there. Take us the rest of the way.

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Carol Kirby, Ottawa

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Tories did well despite — not because of — Poilievre

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The appetite for change from a Liberal government in this election was pervasive, as was born out in the final result. The Conservatives did better than they had in years, especially in the Toronto city core ridings.

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They did this not because of Pierre Poilievre, as conservative pundits would have you believe, but in spite of him. This country was anxious to be rid of Liberals so all it would have taken was a viable alternative to Mark Carney, but they didn’t have one.

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Poilievre significantly trailed Carney throughout the campaign as Canada’s preferred leader, then lost his own seat by a substantial amount. What more does the Conservative Party of Canada need to cause it to rethink what it is doing with respect to leaders?

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I believe that the kind of caustic politics that Poilievre traffics in will never sit well with Canadians, and rightly so. He will never be the prime minister of this amazing country, but we do need a strong Conservative party, so it’s time to move on.

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R.J. Inkpen, Kanata

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No need now for that security clearance

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Well, I guess that solves one problem. Pierre Poilievre won’t have to face any further pressure to obtain a security clearance.

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Anna Blauveldt, Ottawa

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Carleton riding wanted a change

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The reason Pierre Poilievre lost Carleton riding is because he just isn’t as popular there anymore. He’s been there more than 20 years, but was mostly absent the last few, including from candidates’ debates. People were tired of the same old catch phrases and plans without substance.

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He wanted change and that’s what Carleton gave him.

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John D. May, Ottawa

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Carney should respect Poilievre

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The recent media narrative questioning whether Pierre Poilievre should resign as Conservative leader because he narrowly lost his seat in Carleton is troubling. More than eight million Canadians voted for Poilievre and the Conservatives, one of the largest totals ever received by a federal party leader. These numbers represent real people from every region who believe in Poilievre’s message of affordability, accountability and common-sense government. The priority must now be national unity, not media-fuelled speculation.

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Mark Carney has promised Canadians that he wants to unite the country after this election. If he truly means what he says, then he should agree to any request made by Poilievre for a swift byelection. Poilievre, who garnered nearly as many national votes as Carney, has a clear democratic mandate and deserves the opportunity to return to the House of Commons, where nearly half the country wants him to be.

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Rather than call for his resignation, let’s call for respect: for the millions of Canadians who cast their votes for Poilievre and the democratic principles this country was built on. He should remain as leader and continue to speak for the people who put their trust in him.

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Linda Irving, Nepean

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Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Mark Carney shake hands following the English Federal Leaders Debate in April. Can they work together? Photo by CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV /POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesArticle content

Poilievre’s trucker support wasn’t forgotten

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In the wake of the crushing Liberal electoral victory, Tasha Kheiriddin claims we now face a “national unity crisis.”

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Really? Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like a whole lot of elements banded together to ensure that Canada does not cave in to pressure from the Divided States of America. Of course, that meant barring Pierre Poilievre from the Prime Minister’s Office and, indeed, stripping him of any political power (oops, he lost his riding.) So, sacrifices were made (notably, NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green Party incumbents), to ensure a victory for the only party capable of blocking the Conservatives from taking control over our lives.

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That sure doesn’t look like “disunity” to me. Looks more like a win for national unity, social justice and the environment.

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Let Kheiriddin have her sour grapes because her hero got trounced. It’s no wonder, really: people haven’t forgotten Poilievre’s championing of the Great Truckers Insurrection a few years back. Maybe she and the Tories should give Poilievre the boot, and back a saner, more centrist candidate next time.

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Jack Pyl, Ottawa

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Carney, Poilievre must work together

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At the risk of being trite, now that the election is over, the real work begins. I implore Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre to disprove my theory that all politicians are self-serving weasels.

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These two must work together to ensure the Canadian economy strengthens and diversifies away from our dependency on the United States.

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For example: They both claim to want to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, so put your egos and petty bickering aside and make that happen. I strongly believe that many Canadians have a centrist view similar to mine: socially liberal, fiscally conservative.

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Gentlemen, don’t get suckered into pandering to your vocal extremists. Mr. Poilievre, work with Mr. Carney or he will work with the NDP. Pragmatism above all for a strong and free Canada.

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Keith Dawson, Nepean

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The West should elect more MPs from winning party

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A simple solution to the lack of input for Saskatchewan and Alberta priorities in this election would be to elect more members to the winning party. I am sure if a Liberal were elected in Saskatchewan, that person would be in the cabinet. We do this to insure regional representation.

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Deryk McGrath, Manotick

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NDP should demand electoral reform

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The NDP should demand proportional representation for the next federal election before agreeing to back the minority Liberal government on the challenging road ahead.

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PR is long overdue. It’s time to retire the first-past-the-post voting system for a fairer poll reflecting a more honest democracy that listens better to the people.

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Mark Kirkwood Callingham, Ottawa

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When will this vision become reality?

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Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke in his first victory address about a new age for Canada to reimagine and rebuild, as it is time to think big and act even bigger.

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Carney emphasized building an economy that works for everyone: creating new trades; building clean and conventional energy corridors to benefit the country; working closely with indigenous people; sharing the opportunities; establishing twice as much accessible housing; and leveraging skilled trades and career opportunities. A win-win for middle-class Canadians?

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He also stressed the urgency to take a step towards unity by ending trade barriers. Our hopes for a change are high: systematic implementation, effective federalism, inclusive development for every sector and community.

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“We will build a Canada strong, Canada free and Canada forever,” he concluded, as Canada is more than just a nation. It is a confederation. In Canada, kindness is a virtue — not a weakness.

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This is more than a call to action. This is a shared vision. But how long will it take for the policies to turn into action? The people wait for an effective change.

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Zainab Khan, Ottawa

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It’s time all MPs worked together

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I see too much disunity, divisive and uncompromising politics. A program is not a plan, although it is a starting point to achieve a goal through development, discussion and innovation.

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There are usually three sides to every story and they are not: your way, my way and go away. It would truly be a blessing for Canada if all MPs realized that working together is the key to better governance.

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Please keep in mind that all of Canada matters. The people matter. No one single vision can fit or fix all the issues facing Canada.

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MPs, it’s time to put on your Canadian pants, stand up and be counted as true Canadians.

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Gerry Leadbeterm, Orléans

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Don’t negotiate until Trump stops his threats

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Donald Trump’s domestic and foreign policies are failing. He does not understand the economics of tariffs or trade deficits nor, it would seem, basic geography. He claimed 200 countries are knocking at his door to negotiate trade agreements (there are only 193 countries and some of those barely exist.) To try to capture lost ground, he is focusing on annexing Canada.

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The U.S. has a record of stripping countries of their resources and leaving them poorer. Canada would be no exception. Canada must stand strong against his ridiculous statements. No negotiations on trade until Trump publicly retracts his statements on Canada and the 51st state.

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Alistair Hensler, Nepean

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Liberals wrong about a bridge at Kettle Island

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As a Liberal, I am pleased somewhat by the result on Monday. What I am not pleased with is the party’s selective blindness when it comes to bridge-building on Kettle Island.

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No one who has kayaked and sailed among the chain of Kettle, Upper and Lower Duck Islands in the Ottawa River and witnessed the incredible diversity of fragile flora and fauna would consider corrupting this paradise with an interprovincial bridge. I suggest Gatineau MP Steven MacKinnon and Prime Minister Mark Carney try it this summer. I will be happy to be a guide for either or both of you.

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The other thing they seem selectively blind to is that these are not islands so much as sandbars, not the solid geological foundation for a bridge they imagine.

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The river is not very deep in this area. In fact the centre board of my sailboat regularly scrapes the bottom between Kettle and Upper Duck Island. You could almost walk between them.

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There are better locations: Consider how more practical it would be to have the bridge closer to the Rockliffe Airport. The river is more of an ecological dead zone in that section. The bridge would link with Highway 417 more easily with fewer neighbourhoods to disrupt.

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Thomas Brawn, Orléans

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An aerial view of Kettle Island, with the Quebec shoreline on the right-hand side: it’s not suitable for a bridge, says Thomas Brawn. Photo by Mike Dembeck/Nature ConservancyArticle content

Ottawa doesn’t deserve federal help

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The mayor’s repeated pleas for help from the federal government go unanswered — and that is a good thing.

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I live in Beaverbrook and am able to watch dozens of articulated buses driving by our residential street, carrying 10 or 12 passengers at the most. This is another ridiculous plan of the mismanaged OC Transpo which was approved by the mayor and council as a magic solution to bringing back ridership to pre-pandemic levels.

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It’s not going to happen; everybody knows it except the managers at OC Transpo.

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Last summer, the city spend millions building an unfinished sidewalk that the majority of residents did not want and for which there was no need. The city pours millions into redesigning TD place, which benefits the private investors. The list could go on and on.

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As a taxpayer, I can only applaud the silence from the feds when it comes to helping Ottawa.

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Georges Clermont, Kanata

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Thanks, OC Transpo, for a great job

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I would like to extend to OC Transpo my heartiest appreciation for the bus route changes made on April 27. I have already experienced great improvement for inner area residents regarding access to the General and Ottawa Civic campuses of The Ottawa Hospital.

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For seniors who prefer not to, or are unable to, use cars, the frequent service now provided by the #5 and #56 routes is and will be a great boon.

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Special congratulations for the amazingly prompt changes made to the stop signage, so as to avoid confusing riders. It seems that some careful thought and attention have been paid to how best to serve transit ridership. Long may that continue!

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Randal Marlin, Ottawa

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