HALIFAX—So, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is making an image adjustment. 

He has decided to exchange his signature smirk and the snarky remarks that go along with it for a more positive pose. He is now offering to work with all parties to prevent American tariffs on Canadian exports from happening. “Conservatives are here to help and fight for Canada,” he recently said. 

The seemingly endless loop of slogans appeared to have stopped, too. 

Access to microprocessor knees restores independence and eases pressure on the Canadian healthcare system

But will this political leopard really change his spots? Don’t hold your breath. Poilievre has promised co-operation before. Just before Parliament convened in February 2026, he promised he would “co-operate” with Liberals to get legislation through the House of Commons. But it didn’t last. The attack dog reverted to snarling.

Our house is on fire. Canada doesn’t need Conservative news conferences giving the media an update on their inquiry into the COVID-19 vaccine. It may appeal to the base, but there are far more urgent problems facing the country.

What Canada needs in this time of crisis is an opposition party that supports the common goal of mitigating the damage caused by United States President Donald Trump, and the wrecking ball of his punitive trade policies. Headlines in The Globe and Mail and The Walrus have not been kind to Poilievre: “Help wanted: The federal Conservatives are in need of an adult;” “The humiliation of Pierre Poilievre continues;” and “The Conservative feud is embarrassing. Grow up.”

The Globe’s national affairs columnist Gary Mason nailed it: “Mr. Poilievre is failing his party on an epic scale. Many Conservatives can see this. His negative ratings with the public are at 60 per cent, according to Angus Reid polling.” 

Those are not the numbers of a government in waiting. Those are the numbers of a party awaiting a shellacking........

© The Hill Times