Pierre Poilievre mixes sharp criticism with call to inspire ‘hope’ as parties prepare for winter break

As parliamentarians prepared to head home for the winter break, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told caucus members Wednesday that they must pair a message of hope with pointed critiques of the government.

Appearing before Conservative MPs and senators in Ottawa ahead of the expected wrap-up of the fall sitting today, Poilievre used the opportunity to deliver a speech that was full of attacks on the government but also sketched a series of Conservative policy proposals.

“It’s true that people are hurting, but it’s our job as the Official Opposition to turn that hurt into hope, to inspire people that a real improvement in their lives is possible,” he said in a speech that was open to the media.

Delivering slightly different speeches, first in French and then in English, Poilievre denounced in rapid succession Liberal government policies on energy, housing and management of the health-care system.

He said a Conservative government would work with provinces to solve health-care worker staffing shortages by recognizing more foreign training credentials.

“It boils my blood to sit in a waiting room with my daughter, who’s caught from time to time a migraine headache, while she waits and waits along with the other little children because of doctor shortages,” Poilievre said.

The Conservative leader lamented the high cost of living, noting many Canadians were struggling with food security and would be paying more for Christmas dinners this year.

WATCH | Pierre Poilievre says conservatives must provide both criticism and hope:

Caucus members responded enthusiastically to his message on firearms, which became a major issue in recent weeks when the government introduced controversial amendments to its gun control legislation.

“Instead of targeting hunters by banning their hunting rifles, we will target real criminals by upping consequences for repeat offenders, reducing crime while maintaining the tradition of hunting in this country,” he said in French.

Parliament likely to start winter break today: government House leader

Offering a refrain that is becoming increasingly frequent in his speeches, Poilievre compared his own “modest origins” — raised by two teachers after he was given up for adoption by a single mother — to other Canadians hoping to build a good life for themselves in this country through hard work.

“This is the spirit of Canada,” he said.

“Our job is always to stand on the side of the common people, their paycheques, their savings, their homes, their country.”

WATCH | Poilievre discusses health-care wait times:

Parliament is expected to end its current sitting soon and MPs will return to their constituencies, likely until the end of January.

“I think today is likely to be the day,” said government House leader Mark Holland before the Liberals’ caucus meeting Wednesday. Ahead of that meeting, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fielded questions about possible foreign interference in Canadian elections and negotiations with provinces over health-care spending.

And before what is likely to be the last question period of the sitting, Trudeau acknowledged that “Canadians are facing a tough time” and said he would continue to push on issues like health-care spending.

Just ahead of the prime minister’s appearance, a choir of Liberal MPs competed with an appearance before the mics by Conservative MPs Raquel Dancho and Pierre Paul-Hus. And in another sign of the impending holiday season, MP Anthony Housefather delivered a traditional festive poem from the government benches, answered from across the aisle by Conservative MP Scott Reid.

The end of this parliamentary sitting will wrap up the first stage of Poilievre’s tenure as the leader of the Conservative party.

Just over three months since he won a landslide victory in the leadership race, his leadership received its first small test earlier this week in a byelection in Mississauga-Lakeshore. The Conservatives roughly maintained their vote share from 2021, while the Liberals retained control of the seat. The NDP vote share was cut roughly in half from the last election.

The result of the single, limited election was hailed by Liberals, but downplayed by both Conservatives and New Democrats.

The new Liberal MP-elect Charles Sousa attended caucus Wednesday, stopping to thank his new constituents for their support. He said the byelection’s low turnout can be attributed to voter fatigue after provincial and municipal elections.

He also waded into the ongoing debate over health-care funding between provinces and the federal government, saying he supports the government’s position of asking provinces for assurances that new funding would go into health care.

Opposition parties outline key priorities

Elsewhere on the Hill Wednesday, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet also spoke to caucus members, making the pitch for a strong Bloc to both hold the Liberals in check and advocate for Quebec.

“The best argument of the indépendantistes is named Justin Trudeau,” he said in French.

Speaking ahead of question period, Singh cited the struggle of Canadians to make ends meet and argued the NDP has been using its leverage to force the government to address those challenges.

He focused in particular on health-care spending, calling on the government to boost support for personal support workers and other health-care staff.

Singh has had to balance opposition to the government with the obligations of the Liberal-NDP confidence-and-supply deal concluded this spring. He has sought to frame both the Conservative and Liberals as too friendly with the interests of corporations.