Pierre Poilievre has scored a strong win inside his own party, earning 87.4% support in a leadership review that keeps him firmly in charge of Canada’s Conservative Party. The vote took place at the party’s national convention in Calgary, where delegates cast ballots to show whether they still have faith in his leadership after a difficult federal election year.
The leadership review was required after the Conservatives were defeated in the April 2025 federal election by the governing Liberals led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Even Poilievre lost his own seat in that election but later returned to Parliament by winning a byelection in Alberta. Despite that setback, Conservatives made historic gains last year, including a record share of the national vote.
During the convention, Poilievre delivered a speech of more than 45 minutes, focusing on hope, unity and the future direction of the party. He asked delegates to stick with him as leader and to bring Conservative ideas to Canadians in the next election. Delegates responded with an overwhelming show of support.
Party members cheered Poilievre’s message, which highlighted concerns about the cost of living, crime, and national unity, issues that have been central to his political appeal. Some delegates said they believe his leadership will help the Conservatives challenge the Liberals again.
However, not everyone sees this result as a sure sign of broader public backing. Leadership reviews involve party delegates, a relatively small group chosen to represent members, not all party supporters across Canada. As a result, the vote shows strong confidence within the core Conservative base, but it may not fully reflect how all Canadians feel about Poilievre’s leadership.
Poilievre’s popularity outside his party remains mixed. Polls have shown that while he has solid support among Conservatives, his broader public approval lags, especially compared with Carney’s growing national popularity. Some analysts say Poilievre now needs to broaden his appeal to attract voters from other groups if the Conservatives hope to win the next federal election.
Looking ahead, the Conservative Party says it will now focus on rebuilding its campaign strategy and preparing for what could be a competitive election battle as Canada’s political landscape continues to evolve.
