Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he won’t be changing his leadership style and that now-Liberal MP Chris d'Entremont’s comments on the matter won’t lead to more Tory MPs crossing the floor.
Poilievre made the comments when asked by reporters on Nov. 12 if has reflected on his leadership style following d'Entremont’s defection.
“My plan is to continue to lead, to be the only leader in the country that’s fighting for an affordable Canada, where our people who work hard can afford a home and food. That is my agenda,” he said during an unrelated press conference in Calgary.
Poilievre was addressing the media for the first time since d'Entremont, an MP from Nova Scotia, left the Conservative caucus last week to join the Liberals.
A day after crossing the floor on Nov. 4, d'Entremont said that the Conservative leadership style had played a part in his defection.
“I didn’t find I was represented there,” he said. D'Entremont called himself a “Red Tory” and said that his ideals as an Easterner lean towards finding solutions instead of “opposing everything that’s happening.”
D'Entremont also said he supports the budget introduced by the Liberals on Nov. 4, saying it will have a positive impact on his riding.
Conservatives have criticized the budget for running a deficit of $78.3 billion, which they say will fuel inflation, and have called for tax cuts to help with affordability.
When taking questions from reporters about d‘Entremont, Poilievre quoted some of d’Entremont’s own statements in recent weeks in which he criticized the Liberals’ fiscal approach.
“Now, after six months under a new prime minister, who promised financial discipline, Canadians are still waiting,” he added. “He said that he would be judged by the costs at the grocery store. Well, Canadians are judging him, and they are not impressed.”
Poilievre said he is “saddened” that Nova Scotia families are facing high grocery and homes prices and that he would continue fighting for “affordable budgets.”
Poilievre did not expand on the topic when asked by reporters about the comment, and said that d'Entremont’s characterization would not lead to more defections.
Tory MP Matt Jeneroux was rumoured to be planning to defect shortly after d'Entremont made his move but he eventually announced he was resigning from the party, with the effective date being sometime in the spring.
Poilievre did not comment on the reasons for d'Entremont leaving. Other Tories have said he had a grudge over not being chosen as deputy Speaker in the House of Commons, a role he had in the previous Parliament. MP Tom Kmiec won the post in an internal vote after the new Parliament opened in the spring.
D'Entremont said on Nov. 5 that losing the post was an “awkward time” but that he had moved on, with the issue not “really in mind” during the summer break.
D'Entremont’s floor crossing has moved the Liberals to 170 seats, two shy of a majority. It could play a role in the outcome as the House of Commons votes on the budget next week.
There is a possibility some MPs could abstain from voting, which could potentially lead to the budget’s passage. If the budget is rejected, the government would lose confidence and an election could be triggered.
Poilievre noted during the press conference that one Liberal MP has been openly critical of his party’s budget, and said reporters should spend time covering the matter amid the increased scrutiny of the Tory caucus in recent days.
