Poilievre presents himself as PM in waiting at Conservative convention

Poilievre's address to the more than 2,500 supporters gathered for the party's policy convention in Quebec City was the marquee event of the meet-up, his first as party leader.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre tried painting himself as a prime minister in waiting in an election-style speech to party faithful Friday, filling it with the messages he plans to take to Canadians, while throwing some red meat to his base.

Poilievre’s address to the more than 2,500 supporters gathered for the party’s policy convention in Quebec City was the marquee event of the meet-up, which falls almost exactly to the day one year ago since he romped to a crushing first-ballot victory in the leadership race.

“I want to thank my own parents,” Poilievre said to a sea of supporters bathed in blue stage lights. “It’s because they made the decision to adopt me and work hard in front of a classroom that I now stand proudly in front of this room.”

As he thanked his mother, his voice broke slightly with emotion.

His win nearly one year ago was the most decisive victory for a Conservative leader since Stephen Harper in 2004 and continues to be the hope the party has to win back power after nearly eight years of Liberal rule.

Since his big win, Poilievre has been working to hone the party’s priorities, trying to whip it into election-fighting shape and, most recently, introduce a softened version of himself to new voters through numerous outreach events and a $3-million advertising campaign, hoping they warm up to the idea of him as prime minister.

Friday’s speech was a culmination of those efforts. Poilievre promised Conservatives would restore hope to a country weary from a high cost of living, amplifying his message-turned-rally cry of ‘Bring it Home,’ which supporters chanted before he even took the stage.

Like many of the speeches he gave on his summer tour, Poilievre accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of breaking his “promise” of allowing people to achieve what he painted as the Canadian dream, namely home ownership.