Canada’s Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, secured overwhelming support from party delegates despite recent electoral defeats, winning 87.4% approval in a mandatory leadership review that could have ended his political career.
Strong Party Backing Despite Election Loss
The leadership review automatically triggered after Poilievre’s Conservatives lost to Mark Carney’s Liberals last April, a defeat that also cost Poilievre his own parliamentary seat of more than 20 years. Party delegates in Calgary voted Friday to maintain confidence in his leadership, with many citing his record-breaking 41% popular vote share as evidence of progress. Thomas Bambrick, a Winnipeg delegate, called the result a “resounding yes” for trust in the Conservative leader.
Mark Carney: "I recognize that the Leader of the Opposition is just visiting his riding."
Pierre Poilievre: "I recognize that the Prime Minister is just visiting Canada."
Pierre is too good at this 🤣 pic.twitter.com/wP2UdQJhh0
— Jinglai He 🇨🇦 (@JinglaiHe) February 3, 2026
Poilievre delivered an hour-long speech focusing on core conservative principles, including affordability, crime reduction, and limited government. He promised to represent “people who have felt unseen for too long” while addressing Canada’s strained relationship with the United States under President Trump’s tariff threats and statehood rhetoric.
Separatist Movements Challenge National Unity
The Conservative leader confronted growing separatist movements in both Alberta and Quebec, where independence referendums are gaining momentum. Alberta activists are collecting signatures for a separation vote, while Quebec’s sovereignist Parti Québécois leads provincial polls with promises of their own referendum. Poilievre blamed Liberal policies for Canadians losing “hope in the confederation” and called for national unity, declaring, “A house divided cannot stand.”
HILARIOUS
🤣 Pierre Poilievre mid SPEECH
Canadians want HOPE then sees the Liberals: This is the opposite of HOPE
Liberals: we are actually going to work right now.
Pierre: YOU BETTER START
ROASTED 🔥👌 pic.twitter.com/JMTRSZlHGD
— Marc Nixon (@MarcNixon24) February 4, 2026
What This Means
Despite strong party support, Poilievre faces ongoing challenges, including negative approval ratings among broader Canadian voters and defections of two Conservative MPs to Carney’s more centrist Liberals. His success in attracting young voters through housing affordability messaging contrasts with struggles to define positions on Trump’s aggressive policies toward Canada. The leadership victory provides stability but leaves fundamental strategic questions unresolved as Canada navigates economic pressures and regional separatist threats.