Saturday September 10, 2022 | NATIONAL [Updated September 12, 2022]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Conservative Party of Canada has chosen their new leader, with a resounding yes to Pierre Poilievre who won 68.15% of the vote on the first ballot.
Tonight’s slam dunk for the new leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition comes after months of campaigning and years (if not decades) of planning for this moment.
No surprise, his tone shifted from the hard-right trumping style of campaigning to a more statesman-like speaking style as he delivered his televised acceptance speech. His goal now is to win the next federal election by beating Trudeau and the Liberals.
Poilievre’s win was wide-sweeping, getting the most votes in 330 of 338 ridings across Canada. Notably, however, he did not win in the Ottawa Centre riding where the trucker convoy was held this past winter (Poilievre was out there in support of the trucker protesters, a scene that disturbed residents and businesses in downtown Ottawa for weeks).
Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest (2003-2012) who ran for the Conservative leadership got 16.07% of the vote tonight. He was, in part, the victim of Poilievre’s smear campaign calling Charest a Liberal.
“We are one party serving one country,” said Poilievre, already setting a tone for a future federal election.
The usual political comments are rolling in:
These are some of the comments to the new Conservative Leader, as posted on Twitter:
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: “Congratulations, @PierrePoilievre, on being elected Leader of the Conservative Party tonight. As Parliamentarians, we must work together to deliver results for people across the country. Canadians expect – and deserve – nothing less.”
- Jagmeet Singh, NDP Leader: I would like to extend my congratulations to Pierre Poilievre on becoming the Leader of the Conservative Party. I know we will disagree on a lot and rarely find common ground – it’s time Canadians have leaders that tell the truth and refuse the destructive politics of division.
- Conservative Leadership Candidate Jean Charest: “Congratulations to @PierrePoilievre and his team. You deserve a clean slate and the opportunity to unite the membership. We must end the internal mudslinging. Only Liberals benefit from a divided @CPC_HQ. #cdnpoli“
- Conservative Leadership Candidate Dr Leslyn Lewis: “Congratulations Pierre! And congrats to all my fellow candidates. Let’s work together to make Canada a free, hopeful and prosperous nation once again!”
===== OTHER:
Condolence Books for the Queen in person and online (September 12, 2022)
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