SASKATOON — Katrina Hicks believes Pierre Poilievre has the qualities she is looking for in a candidate after listening to the soon-to-be 43-year-old’s speech Tuesday night at the packed Hall A of the Prairieland Park’s World Trade Centre.
Hicks is a first-time voter and would likely vote for Poilievre (who turns a year older on Friday) to be the next leader of the Conservative Party, replacing Erin O’Toole. She said the MP from Ottawa’s Carleton riding is young and brilliant with a directness that makes him a favourite among the people.
“He gave percentages and facts instead of just [pointless] words and he spoke the truth. I’ve had so many [other candidates] telling me, ‘oh, we will do this’ but not explaining how and why they are filling their own pockets or doing something else. He [Poilievre] is direct to the point telling people, ‘this is what I’m going to do’ and this is how he’s going to do it,” Hicks told SASKTODAY.ca.
The music major at Briercrest Christian Academy, College and Seminary attended the event with her mother Celine where they heard the Conservative Party leader hopeful outline his plans if given the chance to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa.
For the elder Hicks, the message of uniting the nation was the most important part of the speech Poilievre delivered to a crowd of more than 2,000 people.
“The message of unity and honouring our freedom. We are not that different from [the United States], in that the people who come here dream of making something for themselves and getting somewhere. My father is a self-made businessman and he came from nothing,” said Celine.
“His father died when he was 10 and he built something on his own. He’s done well for himself and there is no way my children could repeat that process because the roadblocks in their way are crippling.”
The elder Hicks said that Poilievre didn't want to be the party leader at first, so she sent an email to convince the former Shadow Minister for Finance to reconsider his decision to run and lead the Tories to victory in the 2025 federal election.
Amanda Howe, who made the nearly one-hour drive from Delisle with her husband Jody, said she feels Poilievre speaks the truth from his heart in conveying his plans to the common people.
“He just gets straight to the point and he is well articulated. He is going after the issues that matter to me, that matter to us [family]. Like, also, end the [COVID] mandates already. We are one of the last countries to have yet to end this,” said Amanda.
Freedom of speech an issue
“Freedom of speech is also the biggest issue. When we’re a country that is currently trying to control everything, pretty soon you’re going to get phone calls because you said the wrong thing in your newspaper or wherever. I don’t want to ever have that problem,” added Jody.
The Howes believed that the Trudeau government alienated the west, failed to deliver its promises and has been dividing the country instead of unifying it. That’s why they say they will passionately work to get Poilievre elected as the next party leader and hopefully have the Tories take back Parliament.
Poilievre had been a member of the House of Commons since being elected as a young 24-year-old during the 2004 federal election. He is up against Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison and Roman Baber. The Tories will choose their next leader on Sept. 10.
Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek MP Kelly Block, who was one of the organizers of Tuesday night’s event, said Poilievre is a man of conviction and holds to what he believes in. She added her cousin says things that directly connect to the people.
“I know that he is vigorously defending our freedoms. It is very important for Canadians to have freedoms that are enshrined in the Charter of Rights, and to uphold and defend it. We are a country of values, like freedom of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These are values that he holds dear. He is willing to stand up for those values and freedoms. He has been a member of Parliament since 2004, he has won seven elections in the Ottawa area. I believe his message resonates with the people and his constituents,” said Block.
“He’s been attracting crowds like this all across the country, even in Ontario and eastward like Quebec. I think when you have a message that resonates with people, and when you’re talking about our deeply-held convictions and our Charter of Rights, and our freedoms, I believe that is a message that is going to gain him all kinds of support across the country.”
