Poilievre wins leadership review with 87% after campaign-style address in Calgary
Pierre Poilievre secured 87.4% support in a Conservative leadership review after a near-50-minute speech in Calgary, as he outlined policy priorities and pitched unity ahead of the next election.
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By Torontoer Staff
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre cleared his leadership review at the party’s national convention in Calgary, receiving 87.4 per cent support, party officials said early Saturday. The vote followed a near-50-minute, campaign-style address to members on Friday night, and party spokespeople put turnout at about 95 per cent.
The result gives Poilievre a strong formal endorsement from members after the Conservatives increased their seat count by roughly two dozen in last April’s election but still fell short of forming government.
The speech and the messaging
Poilievre delivered a combative address that recycled themes from the election: high taxes, the cost of living, youth unemployment and concerns about immigration. He framed those issues as evidence that Canada, he said, is worse off after a decade of Liberal rule.
Simply put, Canadians cannot afford life under the Liberal government.
Pierre Poilievre
He promised to fight for people he described as 'carrying the country on their back,' and he outlined a plan labelled the Canadian Sovereignty Act. The plan targets federal laws and regulations the Conservative caucus says block development and investment.
- Repeal of Bill C-69 and other laws described as growth-blocking
- Elimination of the industrial carbon price and the oil and gas sector emissions cap
- Tax changes intended to reward business reinvestment, including proposals affecting capital gains treatment
The speech included references to national unity, calls to tighten immigration policy, and criticism of what Poilievre called 'cancel culture' and identity politics. He pressed for a stronger posture on sovereignty and for measures he says would prioritise Canadian workers and producers.
Party history and the review process
Party rules require a leadership review at the first convention following a federal election. Poilievre originally won the party leadership on the first ballot in 2022 with 68.15 per cent support, after a contentious contest. The last comparable review was in 2005, when Stephen Harper received 84 per cent support.
Members and senior Conservatives framed Friday’s vote as a test of unity heading into what many expect will be another federal campaign window in the coming year.
Polling, seats and public standing
The Conservatives sit behind the Liberals in some national tracking numbers, despite maintaining a lead on the national vote in other polls last year. Nanos Research numbers released Jan. 27 put the Liberals at 39.2 per cent and the Conservatives at 35.2 per cent. On the preferred prime minister question, Nanos gave Prime Minister Mark Carney 52.8 per cent to Poilievre’s 24.8 per cent.
Poilievre lost his long-held Ottawa-area seat in April to a Liberal challenger but returned to the House after winning a rural Alberta byelection in August. Conservative strategists argue that the party’s ground game and fundraising show momentum, while critics point to the gap on the preferred prime minister metric as a persistent challenge.
Reactions and next steps
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer signalled confidence in the result before the vote, saying he expected a strong endorsement. Campaign manager Steve Outhouse told CTV that he expects an election this year, though he said it may not be necessary right away and suggested the governing Liberals could be tempted to call one.
I believe that we’re going to get a good result, I’ve spoken to members of caucus, members of our party, they recognize that with Mr. Poilievre, we achieved historic levels of support.
Andrew Scheer
The party also reported record fundraising for 2025, raising nearly $48 million across more than 327,000 donations. The Liberals reported their own record, roughly $29 million in 2025.
What the review means
The 87.4 per cent outcome gives Poilievre institutional backing inside his party and solid cover to press his agenda. It does not change the immediate political landscape in Ottawa, but it clarifies who will lead the Conservative message and campaign strategy going into the next federal contest.
Poilievre’s convention address and the leadership result signal that the party will continue to centre economic concerns and sovereignty themes while attempting to broaden appeal in the provinces and urban centres ahead of the next national vote.
Pierre PoilievreConservative PartyCanada politicsleadership reviewCalgary convention
