Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is gathering his MPs in Penticton, B.C., for a strategy retreat as the party prepares for the return of Parliament following a summer marked by internal Conservative disputes and questions about his leadership.
The caucus meeting comes ahead of the House of Commons returning on September 21 and at a time when the Conservatives remain behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals in national polling. Global News reported that the 338Canada polling aggregator had the Liberals at 46 per cent support and the Conservatives at 33 per cent.
Poilievre has also faced public criticism from figures within the broader Conservative movement. Tensions intensified after he congratulated former MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay on winning the B.C. Conservative leadership and described the result as a victory over “liberal lobbyists” from Eastern Canada. The remark was widely interpreted as a reference to Kory Teneycke, Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s campaign manager, who had worked on a rival leadership campaign.
Teneycke subsequently criticized Poilievre publicly, while several other Conservative figures spent parts of the summer debating the federal party’s direction and leadership. The Penticton retreat therefore gives Poilievre an opportunity to refocus his caucus before MPs return to Ottawa.
Ahead of the gathering, Poilievre returned to themes that featured prominently during his 2025 election campaign, particularly affordability, housing, food prices and public safety. He said the Conservatives’ immediate priority would be reducing costs for Canadians and accused the Liberal government of failing to deliver the standard of living Canadians expect.
Poilievre also targeted Carney’s economic strategy, criticizing what he characterized as a focus on “summits and signing ceremonies” rather than tangible results for households. His comments came as Carney hosted the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, where the federal government is seeking to attract as much as $1 trillion in new investment.
The Conservative leader separately raised concerns about Carney’s effort to deepen Canada’s relationship with the European Union. Poilievre said Conservatives support free trade and cooperation with Europe but oppose surrendering Canadian authority over taxation, laws or immigration. The federal government has not proposed subjecting Canadians to EU taxes or immigration policies.
The criticism comes as polling indicates broad public support for closer Canada-Europe cooperation. An Abacus Data survey cited by Global News found 80 per cent of Canadians supported deeper cooperation with European countries on foreign policy, defence and economic priorities. Support was reported at 92 per cent among Liberal and NDP voters, 86 per cent among Bloc Québécois voters and 69 per cent among Conservative supporters.
The fall sitting will give Poilievre an opportunity to sharpen the Conservatives’ contrast with the Carney government as Ottawa confronts major questions involving affordability, investment, Canada-U.S. trade and the country’s expanding relationship with Europe.
For Poilievre, the Penticton retreat is also an opportunity to consolidate his caucus after months of public disagreements within the broader Conservative movement and establish the party’s strategy as MPs return to Parliament on September 21.
