Pierre Poilievre

Pierre Poilievre is the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, a role he has held since 2022. As we head toward a federal election on April 28, he’s vying to lead the Conservatives to power for the first time in a nearly decade.

Who is Pierre Poilievre?

Poilievre, 45, was born and raised in Calgary and studied international relations at the University of Calgary. He went on to work for Stockwell Day, the leader of the Canadian Alliance — a party that subsequently merged into the modern-day Conservative party.

Poilievre was first elected as a Conservative MP in 2004, at the age of 25, in the Ottawa riding of Nepean-Carleton, a region he continues to represent federally today.

A career politician, he has been a notable face for the party for years, a go-to voice for the Conservatives in the House of Commons while the party sat on the opposition benches. 

Poilievre is facing the prospect of forming government in a federal election against the Liberals and their new leader, Mark Carney. 

Where does Pierre Poilievre stand on key environmental issues?

Poilievre has focused his ire on the carbon tax and the now-former prime minister Justin Trudeau, but has had to pivot hard as his opponents turned on their tax and Trudeau — and as the U.S. turns its back on its closest ally. 

He has also made it clear he wants to boost the Canadian energy sector.

Poilievre intends to lift the cap on oilsands emissions and speed up approval for refineries, liquefied natural gas plants and pipelines to “cause a massive resource boom.”

“My plan on the environment is technology and not taxes,” he said in a short video posted on social media platforms in May 2024.

What’s at stake for the natural world in this election? A lot — and we have you covered. Sign up for our newsletter for updates from the campaign trail and whatever comes next.

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What’s at stake for the natural world in this election? A lot — and we have you covered. Sign up for our newsletter for updates from the campaign trail and whatever comes next.

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The federal election is here

Poilievre plans to speed up approval of renewable energy developments like nuclear, hydroelectric and offshore tidal power projects.

“We can’t afford five or six years of federal red tape blocking hydroelectric dams that are going to be necessary to supply the kilowattage to power an electric economy,” he said in the video.

Where do Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives stand in the upcoming federal election?

Polls indicate the election, once considered a shoo-in for the Conservatives, will be a nail-biter. 

But he’s also leading a party that has significant hoards of cash and a populist message that could still resonate despite the dramatic national mood shift introduced by another populist: U.S. President Donald Trump. 

It remains unclear whether his shift away from hammering all of Canada’s faults — particularly in terms of building infrastructure and energy projects — toward championing the nation against a hostile ally, will pay off.