Poilievre schedules rally in Carleton amid reports he could lose his seat

The Conservative leader has represented the rural Ottawa riding since 2004, but faces a determined push by Liberals to unseat him amid slumping polls.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has scheduled a last-minute “whistle stop” rally in his rural Ottawa riding amidst reports that he’s in danger of losing his seat.

On Sunday night, Poilievre will meet with constituents in the rural Ottawa riding of Carleton — a seat he’s held since being first elected in 2004 at age 25 — on the eve of the federal election.

Both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail — citing unnamed federal and Ontario conservative sources — reported Thursday Poilievre could be in danger of losing his own seat.

Citing an unnamed source in the Conservative campaign, the Star reported Thursday Poilievre appears to be “in trouble” in his own riding. Two other Conservative sources, not connected to the campaign, told the newspaper, “Poilievre’s team has reached out to party supporters looking for volunteers to help because of fears that the leader’s victory may not be assured.”

“No riding is ever taken for granted but we are confident Pierre Poilievre will be returned to Parliament to represent Carleton,” said Simon Jefferies, a spokesperson for the Conservative campaign, on Friday.

“Mr. Poilievre is ending the campaign in Carleton to thank his local volunteers who have been working hard on his behalf while he has campaigned across the country.”

Elections Canada revealed this week that Poilievre’s Carleton riding had the highest number of ballots cast during the four days of advanced polls over the Easter long weekend with 43,394. Liberal Leader Mark Carney’s chosen riding of Nepean came fifth, with 32,689 votes.

The Conservatives head into the final weekend of the campaign still trailing Carney’s Liberals, despite having a commanding lead in national polls at the beginning of the year.