Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s team has reached out to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office to arrange a call between the two, an apparent bid to ease tensions after Poilievre’s party lost the federal election.
The move follows weeks of conflict within Canada’s conservative movement, including public criticism from Ford.
“I think he’s asked everyone across the country for a meeting. I have no problem with that. And I’d be more than happy to talk to anyone and work with anyone. That’s just what we do,” said Ford on Wednesday.
The frosty relationship between Ontario Progressive Conservatives and the federal Conservatives was on display throughout the campaign, culminating in an accusation from the Ontario premier last Wednesday in a news conference in Brampton, Ont.
“Last time I checked, Pierre Poilievre never came out in our election. As a matter of fact, him, or one of his lieutenants, told every one of his members, don’t you dare go out and help the PCs. Isn’t that ironic?” said Ford.
When asked to account for the disconnect between the two leaders, Ford said last week that “all they have to do is make a phone call.”
Ford is one of two Progressive Conservative premiers who have taken issue with Poilievre and his team in recent weeks. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston confirmed tensions between his office and Poilievre’s senior adviser, Jenni Byrne, in a news conference last week.
“I think after four consecutive losses to the Liberal Party, I think it’s time for them to do some soul-searching,” said Houston.
He said the federal Conservatives have been “great at pushing people away and not so good at pulling people in.”
A spokesperson for Houston’s office, Catherine Klimek, said he has not yet received any post-election correspondence from Poilievre’s office. Houston is currently on a trade mission in Spain.
Poilievre’s outreach comes as he met with the Conservative caucus on Tuesday, where sources say he spoke at length. Two caucus sources said he appeared humbled in his remarks.
Earlier that morning, Poilievre spoke to reporters for the first time since election night — and since news broke that he lost in his own Ottawa-area riding.
He defended the campaign his party ran, but indicated some changes would be coming.
“We have to enlarge our team, grow our support, build on our caucus strengths,” he said to reporters on Parliament Hill.
Poilievre seeks to keep the Conservative leadership and appears to have the support of caucus. He plans to run in an Alberta byelection which is on track to happen this summer.
While Poilievre is outside of the House of Commons, former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer will be taking on the role of interim leader of the Opposition.
Neither the Conservative Party nor the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition responded to a request for comment.
