Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he fears for his family’s safety as political violence casts a growing shadow over public life in Canada and the United States — and he is calling for stronger protection for all top politicians.
In a wide-ranging CBC interview, Poilievre revealed that he and his family have been under RCMP protection after “very serious threats,” adding that the killing of U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this week is a reminder that political disagreements must never turn deadly.
“Kirk was killed because he expressed a contrary point of view,” Poilievre said. “We can’t let the terrorist who carried out this assassination change that. Debate and disagreement are the lifeblood of a free democracy.”
Security Fears as Threats Mount
The RCMP has not disclosed details about the threats, but Poilievre’s comments highlight the rising anxiety among public figures as polarization deepens. He said that every political leader assessed to face credible threats should receive protection to avoid “something like this happening on our turf.”
From Security to Policy: Poilievre’s Fall Agenda
Pivoting from security to policy, Poilievre tore into Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, accusing it of failing to deliver a single “nation-building” project in his first six months in office despite promising to accelerate development.
Carney’s announcement of five priority infrastructure and resource projects — including LNG expansion in B.C. and a Saskatchewan copper mine — was, Poilievre argued, nothing more than taking credit for projects “already approved or nearly approved.”
“So far he’s succeeded at setting up an office with one employee, and he sent a list of five projects … and now he’s picking up the football in the end zone to spike it,” Poilievre said.
Jobs, Economy, and Trade Pressure
Poilievre linked Canada’s near-peak unemployment rate — 66,000 jobs lost in August, the highest decline since 2016 — to what he called Carney’s failure to land a new trade deal with Donald Trump.
“He promised to have a deal by July 21,” Poilievre said. “Those are broken promises.”
He also renewed his demand to abolish the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, arguing it has oversaturated the labour market and left fewer opportunities for young Canadians. “I don’t blame the workers — they’re just doing what the government told them to do — but jobs in Canada should go to Canadians first,” he said.
Climate and Carbon Taxes
Poilievre criticized the Liberal climate approach as both expensive and ineffective, pledging to repeal the industrial carbon tax and emissions cap if elected. He argued that building more LNG liquefaction plants would reduce global emissions by allowing Asian economies to replace coal with Canadian natural gas.
“You can call me whatever you like,” Poilievre said when asked if he considered himself an environmentalist. “What I know is the government is not even meeting its own targets.”
The Political Stakes
Poilievre’s message blends personal vulnerability with sharp economic attacks and a populist pitch for energy development. While Carney has framed his government’s approach as balancing growth with environmental goals, Poilievre is positioning himself as the leader who will “put Canadians first” — on jobs, security, and energy — while claiming Ottawa’s current approach has left the country weaker and less safe.
Coutsey CBC News