Poilievre holding 'Canada First' rally today in Ottawa amid U.S. threats
CBC
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is hosting a "Canada First" rally in Ottawa today as U.S. President Donald Trump's threats fuel a surge in patriotism and shift the political landscape north of the border.
The event at the Rogers Centre, steps from Parliament Hill, comes on the 60th anniversary of Canada adopting the red-and-white maple leaf flag. The Conservatives are asking attendees to wear red and white clothes.
Trump's threat of sweeping tariffs and continual talk of annexation have shifted Canadians' focus in recent weeks, polling shows, with the Conservatives' long-held double-digit lead narrowing.
Poilievre has more prominently emphasized his "Canada First" messaging. He released a video earlier this week in which he said he's encouraging everyone, regardless of their political allegiance, to raise Canadian flags this weekend.
And on Thursday, the party touted a new ad featuring Poilievre's wife Anaida, where the Poilievres raise a Canadian flag together and speak of working to "bring home Canada's promise."
Poilievre's longtime principal slogan — axing the carbon tax — has featured less prominently, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his way out and the candidates vying to replace him promising to ditch the consumer carbon price.
Radio-Canada reported earlier this month that the Conservatives were conducting internal surveys to adapt the party's message with the changing political reality.
CBC's Poll Tracker shows that although the Liberals are closing the gap, most surveys still suggest the Conservatives would win a majority government if the election were held today.
Poilievre and the Conservative caucus met in Ottawa on Friday. The party sent out voice mails and text messages urging people in the area to attend this afternoon's rally.
Along with threatening a 25 per cent tariff on nearly all Canadian goods, Trump has repeatedly said that Canada should be the 51st state. Earlier this week, a White House official said he didn't rule out the idea during a meeting with Canadian premiers in D.C.
In the face of threats from the White House, five former prime ministers called on Canadians to fly the flag in a show of national unity today.
Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper told Canadians to "show the flag as never before" as the country contends with "threats and insults from Donald Trump."
"Let's fly our flag with pride. Let's show the world that we are proud of our history and proud of our country," they wrote.
Canadian flagmakers have reported that sales are surging at what is normally a slow time of year.
The NDP leadership race could be turning into a nail-biter with no clear winner in sight. But it's unclear if Canadians are tuning in.
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