EDITORIAL: Now some questions about Mark Carney
Article content
A recent Angus Reid poll suggests half of Canadians would be “ashamed” to call Pierre Poilievre their prime minister. That makes for a damning headline, but begs the question: Can we see the result of similar questions asked about Prime Minister Mark Carney?
According to the poll released this week, 68% of Conservative voters support Poilievre and 54% of Canadians who considered voting Conservative but did not follow through want the party to replace him at a January leadership review in Calgary.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
EDITORIAL: Now some questions about Mark Carney Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Those polled were asked to respond to statements including, “Pierre Poilievre is not sincere,” and “Pierre Poilievre is someone I’d be ashamed to call prime minister.” Questions also focused on his likability, his values and whether he cares about women.
It’s reasonable to ask such pointed questions, of course, if you also ask similar questions of Poilievre’s opponents. We expect Angus Reid to follow up with a survey on Carney. Some suggestions: Do you agree, yes or no, that Mark Carney has caved to U.S. President Donald Trump on tariffs? Mark Carney doesn’t care about Western Canada. Mark Carney’s only successful policies are those he stole from Conservatives. Mark Carney doesn’t know how to deal with China’s canola tariffs.
Poilievre’s adversaries gleefully point out that he lost his own seat in Ottawa-Carleton in the last election. Now that he’s been returned to Parliament through this week’s byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, with 80% of the popular vote, some critics are still casting around for reasons to question his legitimacy. It’s time for them to move on. There are some who suggest he should play nice and not criticize Carney. Hello? The job of an effective Opposition leader is to hold the government to account.
Conservatives can look at this poll and see what didn’t work in the last election. Slogans don’t work; substance does. Don’t hang your hat on one issue, such as the carbon tax. When the Liberals cancel it, you have your platform pulled from under you.
It’s also clear Poilievre needs to tone down the edginess. Politics is full of pit bulls who go on the attack. That’s a job for others in his caucus.
If a prime minister is smart, competent and delivers on his promises, the likability will follow.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.