Conservative members pick MP Pierre Poilievre to be their new leader
CBC
Conservative Party of Canada members have chosen Ontario MP Pierre Poilievre to be their new leader.
In the end, it wasn't much of a contest. Poilievre easily clinched victory with an impressive 68.15 per cent of the available points on the first ballot — a decisive result that puts the right-wing and populist politician in a strong position to lead a united party into the next general election.
Poilievre didn't just dominate in the points — he nearly swept every riding in the country.
Of the 338 electoral districts in Canada, Poilievre lost only eight to his main opponent, former Quebec premier Jean Charest.
Charest won six ridings in Quebec and two in Ontario — Ottawa-Centre and University-Rosedale in Toronto.
The campaign was nasty at times. Poilievre was in a pitched battle with Charest — a more moderate Tory — not only for the leadership but for the party's identity.
Poilievre accused Charest of being a closet Liberal, while Charest slammed his opponent in turn as a radical who has sought the support of criminals associated with the Freedom Convoy.
But tonight, party members left little doubt about who they think is best positioned to lead them into the next election. Charest got just 16.07 per cent of the points allocated in this preferential ballot election.
Speaking to a crowd of hundreds of Conservatives who gathered to see their candidate take the crown, Poilievre sought to heal those wounds.
The MP thanked Charest for helping to fight off the 'yes' vote in the 1995 referendum in Quebec.
"You have made Canada your project and our nation is ever grateful," Poilievre said.
As for Poilievre's other opponents, Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis — the lone social conservative candidate in this race — took just 9.69 per cent of the points.
Former Ontario MPP Roman Baber, a vocal critic of COVID restrictions, took 5.03 per cent, while MP Scott Aitchison, a former mayor in Ontario's cottage country, took about 1 per cent of the points.
Poilievre dominated this leadership race all along. He racked up big caucus support — 62 MPs and seven Conservative senators supported this candidacy — and raised more than $6.7 million. Charest, by comparison, was endorsed by 16 MPs and raised just $2.7 million.
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