The federal Conservative Party is seeking to make amends with some provincial leaders after tensions with both Ontario and Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative premiers played out in public last year, sources say.
In December, Pierre Poilievre’s new campaign manager, Steve Outhouse, reached out to both Tim Houston and Doug Ford’s offices in an effort to turn the page on a fractious period where both premiers were publicly criticizing Poilievre’s Conservatives.
Sources say making these calls was identified as a “priority” and that Outhouse — who officially started his job on Dec. 1 — was considered a strong potential peacemaker in part because he has good relationships with people inside both of Houston and Ford’s offices.
The sources say the calls centred on highlighting that Poilievre’s team is interested in having a relationship with the provincial parties, and that they want to do whatever they can to work together.
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Three provincial and federal sources spoke to CBC News about the outreach effort. CBC News agreed to not name the sources because they are not authorized to speak publicly about internal party matters.
Two sources say there’s a desire on all sides to move on.
In a statement, Outhouse says he believes unifying Conservatives across the country is key to winning the next federal election.
“As an Atlantic Canadian who has worked on campaigns across the country, I have a great respect for all parts of our conservative voter coalition. Each part has its strengths, and I am looking forward to working with all parts of the conservative movement to win the next election — whenever that is,” he said.
Outhouse, who is from Nova Scotia, will be attending the provincial Progressive Conservative (PC) annual general meeting in February, and has reached out to other provincial PC or Conservative teams across the country.
He has recent experience running campaigns in Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and New Brunswick, and in Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis’s 2020 and 2022 federal leadership bids.
The strained relationship between Poilievre’s team and the two premiers was on display before, during and after the last federal election.
In Ontario, tensions were already simmering by the time the federal campaign started. Per a report in the Toronto Star, Poilievre allegedly congratulated Ford on his February re-election — weeks after it happened.
Ford’s team accused the federal party of withholding resources and support during the provincial election, and Ford responded by saying his party was “too swamped” to help the federal Conservative campaign in their spring election.
In contrast, Ford hosted Liberal Leader Mark Carney for a breakfast meeting (and photo op) in Etobicoke in the days before the election campaign. Ford also publicly criticized the Conservatives’ campaign strategy.
Houston confirmed tensions between his office and Poilievre’s former chief adviser, Jenni Byrne, last spring.
“After four consecutive losses to the Liberal Party, I think it’s time for them to do some soul-searching,” said Houston.
He accused the federal Conservatives of being “great at pushing people away and not so good at pulling people in.“
Since the 2025 election, sources say Poilievre’s team has sought to make inroads in repairing relationships. Efforts to speak to Ford’s team date back to last May.
In recent months, Poilievre has publicly supported the Ontario premier. Earlier this week, he sided with Ford’s position that Canada must not drop a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.
When Ford was facing criticism over running an anti-tariff ad that prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to abruptly end trade talks, Poilievre defended the premier, saying Ford was stepping up to fill a leadership void left by the prime minister.
Poilievre’s efforts to shore up friendships also include outreach to former leadership rival Patrick Brown, with whom the Conservative leader met last September. Earlier this week, Poilievre put a spotlight on a Toronto Star op-ed decrying extortion threats in Peel Region, written by Brown.
It’s unclear whether Poilievre’s courting is having any effect. Neither premiers’ office responded to a request for comment.
Poilievre will face a leadership review later this month in Calgary at the party’s convention.
