Pierre Poilievre wins Conservative Leadership race, becomes Leader of the Opposition

Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via CTV News

Pierre Poilievre won the Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership race on Sept. 10, becoming Leader of the Conservative Party and leader of the Official Opposition.

Poilievre won on the first ballot, winning 68 per cent of the vote. This was the first time a conservative leader was elected on the first ballot since Stephen Harper in 2004.

According to CBC News, Poilievre won at least a plurality of vote in 330 out of 338 ridings. Coming in second place, Jean Charest, the former Premier of Quebec, won a plurality in the remaining eight ridings.

Poilievre’s election came as no surprise to Conservative Party members. According to a poll conducted by Ispos on Aug. 31, Poilievre was the clear favorite amongst party members, with 44 per cent of voters willing to vote for him. Charest was viewed as the best candidate by only 18 per cent of respondents.

In Poilievre’s first caucus speech as leader of the opposition, he emphasized his commitment to help the working class.

“Canadians are hurting and it is our job to transform that hurt into hope. That is my mission,” Poilievre said.

Since becoming leader, Poilievre has announced his shadow cabinet, which includes former leadership race opponents Leslyn Lewis and Scott Aitchison.

Polling between Prime Minister Trudeau and the leader of the opposition is currently neck and neck. A recent poll by Nanos Research finds that 30 per cent of Canadians would prefer Poilievre as Prime Minister. By comparison, Trudeau is preferred by 29.8 per cent of surveyants, a 0.2 per cent difference.