There was a woman crocheting in her chair, a lot of others talking on their cell phones or stopping before the end.
Pierre Poilievre did not particularly inspire his supporters with his most important speech of his political career at the party conference in Quebec.
In other words: it was a success.
seize the moment
Because Pierre Poilievre was not addressing them, but potential voters who are developing beyond his base.
No direct mention of bad wokes, freedom truckers, transgender people and abortion.
Poilievre avoided directly addressing issues that would have roiled the room or, conversely, turned off the average voter.
He left the red meat in the fridge to serve a dish carefully prepared with one key ingredient: common sense.
In short, the new, milder Poilievre without glasses has taken hold.
He understood the importance of the moment leading the polls ahead of Justin Trudeau, who is losing his wits.
Quebec
Much was said about Quebec in Mr Poilievre’s speech.
The Quebec strategy is slowly emerging, and it’s disarmingly simple: Speak to your heart, not your head.
His call to other Canadians in English to take the example of Quebecers who are unapologetic about “defending their language and their culture” is a clever attack on “cancel culture.”
He wants us to understand that he captures what makes us different from the rest of the country.
His wife has heard Watatatow and La Petite vie and he knows Mes Aïeux.
Or at least someone close to him had the idea to include Degeneration’s words in his speech.
There is no talk of a 50-point plan to seduce Quebec. He relies on the regions, the love of big tanks, the price of gas, access to housing, the cost of living.
The real bargains, as they say. Or, if you will, “common sense.” We keep coming back to it.
It remains to be seen whether this strategy will be effective. His opposition to Bill 21 and disinterest in the environment could cost him dearly.
Blind spots
There are also the new Poilievre’s blind spots, of which there are many. Common sense is currently more of a slogan than a program.
He wants to cut public spending to balance the budget. But at the expense of which services?
He wants to make property more accessible by financially penalizing cities that don’t grow fast enough for his liking. A battle with the cities that could prove more complicated than expected.
Poilievre has other remains to bury, such as his appreciation for Bitcoin and his YouTube videos that covertly target misogynists.
Will all this ever haunt him? Or will Canadians look elsewhere when deciding their next government?
The Liberals were always convinced that Poilievre would be seen as too radical to pass on to the average voter.
But for now, it’s more Poilievre taking advantage of the fact that he’s not Justin Trudeau, without taking anything away from his effective selling point.
