Poilievre announces bid to run for ‘Prime Minister’ as next Conservative party leader

Pierre Poilievre says he is “running for Prime Minister,” kicking off his intention to seek the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.

In a nearly three minute video tweet posted Saturday night, the member of parliament for Carleton and the party’s finance critic, says that government’s have gotten “big and bossy,” and that his campaign is focused on freedom, from inflation, and fear of large government.

https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1490115382157398030

While criticizing those using COVID as a “political opportunity,” Poilievre went on to echo many of the themes that have come out of the recent “Freedom Convoy” protests which has paralyzed the city of Ottawa for the past week.

“The Trudeau government has attacked small businesses, truckers, and other hard working Canadians,” he says.

“Trudeau thinks he’s your boss. He’s got it backwards, you are the boss,” he adds with a wry smile.

“Together we will make Canadians the freest people on earth. …Freedom from the invisible thief of inflation, freedom to raise your kids with your values, freedom to make your own health and vaccine choices, freedom to speak without fear, and freedom to worship God in your own way.”

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At no time in the video message does he say he’s actually running for the leadership of the party, which opened up after MPs forced Erin O’Toole out of the position only three days earlier.

Poilievre throws his hat into the ring ahead of any other prospective candidate and before the race has officially begun, as the party’s election committee doesn’t yet exist and no rules have been released.

As such, he can’t begin fundraising. A document attached to his launch video released Saturday lists one of the options for supporters to choose to help is by purchasing memberships to vote for him.

Poilievre’s announcement was quickly followed by many MPs throwing their support behind his candidacy.

“I’m with Pierre,” tweeted Ontario MP Melissa Lantsman. “No question _ Pierre is the right answer to a strong (and) united Conservative Party.”

Longtime Conservative Manitoba MP James Bezan also endorsed Poilievre, saying in a tweet that he has the communication skills, work ethic and “strong conservative values” to defeat Trudeau.

Throughout his time in Parliament, Poilievre has built up a reputation as as fiery performer in the House, who is deeply steeped in conservative values and thinking.

He enters the race with a considerable social media following and during last year’s election struck out with his own campaign videos and slogan, separate than that of the party’s or leader’s.

Other names being tossed around for potential candidates include Ontario MP Leslyn Lewis, who placed third in the 2020 leadership race as well as Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Peter MacKay, former leader of the Progressive Conservative party and cabinet minister, who finished second behind O’Toole.