Tory MP Who Was Once a ‘Skeptic’ of Poilievre Now Advocates for Him to Remain Leader

May 2, 2025 TruthUSA

A veteran Conservative MP who previously did not support Pierre Poilievre during the 2022 leadership campaign now asserts that he is the right person to hold the government accountable on critical issues, particularly concerning the economy.

Michelle Rempel Garner frequently writes articles analyzing political matters, and on May 2, she shared her insights on social media regarding the challenges the Conservative Party faces following this week’s election defeat.

She emphasized that stable leadership is essential as Canada confronts significant economic challenges, which she fears may be exacerbated by the new Liberal government’s spending proposals.

The Liberals’ financial blueprint has indicated plans for $129 billion in new expenditure and an additional $225 billion to the federal debt over four years. Rempel Garner pointed out that Fitch credit rating agency warned this week that such fiscal policies could negatively affect Canada’s credit rating.

“The elephant in the room is that Canada is facing a stagflationary scenario with minimal resources in government coffers,” she stated.

“With millions of Canadians living paycheck to paycheck, job losses resulting from a recession, along with persistent inflationary pressures, could lead to catastrophic consequences for the country.”

She asserted that Conservatives must prioritize the nation’s finances once Parliament reconvenes. Parliament has been inactive since early January when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced prorogation.

Rempel Garner successfully retained her seat in the Calgary Nose Hill riding during this week’s election and will embark on her fifth term in the House of Commons upon Parliament’s return on May 26.

During the 2022 Conservative leadership race, Rempel Garner was initially one of the few MPs backing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown before he was ultimately disqualified.

“I didn’t support Pierre in the last leadership race, so I was initially among his strongest skeptics,” she noted. “However, since his leadership victory with a significant plurality, he has certainly earned my respect.”

Rempel Garner lost her position in the shadow cabinet following the ousting of Tory leader Erin O’Toole in early 2022.

The Alberta MP expressed that she chose to view her demotion as a “gift,” using the opportunity to reflect on her role and enhance her policy initiatives away from daily partisanship.

“That shift reminded me that genuine political influence comes from the constituents you represent,” she remarked, indicating it was a chance for personal development.

“I am confident that Pierre—already a formidable force—has the ability to hold and expand our voter coalition, and he now has a bit more room to do so while leading our party,” she added.

The Conservatives gained 25 seats in this election, achieving their largest share of votes since 1988.

This was insufficient for victory and followed a period where the Tories saw their once 20-point lead in polls diminish due to various factors including Trudeau’s exit, tariffs, and remarks from the U.S. President, along with a new leader for the Liberal Party.

The Liberals fell short of a majority government by four seats, and the Tories performed well in certain areas, winning additional seats in Ontario and B.C. However, this did not compensate for the weaker results from both the NDP and the Bloc Québécois.

It also wasn’t enough for Poilievre to retain the riding he has represented since 2004.

Other Support

In his concession speech, Poilievre indicated his intention to remain as leader and has since received backing from many MPs, including notable figures such as former leader Andrew Scheer.

The details of Poilievre’s return to the House of Commons became clearer on May 2 when Alberta MP Damien Kurek announced he would resign to allow Poilievre to contest a by-election in his riding.

Kurek, first elected in 2019, would have secured his MP pension in October. He was re-elected on April 28 with 81.8 percent of the vote.

Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on May 2 that he would call a byelection as soon as possible, assuring he would not delay Poilievre’s return to the House.

Parliament is set to reconvene on May 26, with King Charles expected to deliver the throne speech on May 27.

Before that, the Conservative caucus will need to decide whether to activate the Reform Act to initiate a leadership review following the election defeat.

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