Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is effective because the frustration he expresses resonates with people, said his leadership campaign Communications Director Ginny Roth and senior advisor Michael Wilson at a Canada Strong and Free Network (CSFN) Canadian Optimists panel discussion. .“We were always defending conservative policies and solutions instead of presenting them in their best possible light and explaining why they’re better,” said Roth at the Wednesday event. .“I was drawn to Poilievre’s leadership campaign and put my hand up and said I want to help because I saw him as that fighter.” .Roth said Poilievre is an optimist because he is a fighter. She said people support him because he offers solutions to their problems and is not shy about it. .Wilson said he supported Poilievre because he can “articulate a positive conservative vision for the future of the country.” .“He clearly isn’t going to try to win the next election by being as close to Justin Trudeau as possible without any distinguishable difference,” said Wilson. .“He’s going to offer, as we saw with the leadership, his own ideas, his own narrative for how to make the country a better place and what needs to change.” .The advisor said he was tired of conservative parties at the federal and provincial level acting like liberals. He said he is optimistic Poilievre will offer people a different choice in the next election. .Roth went on to say Poilievre’s messaging has substance. This approach makes for strong communication by connecting with people. .She said many current government press releases lack substance. Working with Poilievre, she said, was the opposite because he is thoughtful. .Wilson said Poilievre has been “saying the same things he’s been saying for 20 years.” He spoke about how Poilievre is the person who makes his own videos, which shows how his ideas originate from him. .Roth said the leader observed the mainstream media is unpopular. She mentioned how he posted on social media and did interviews with independent media to bypass filters. .The event continued with Wilson saying Poilievre was successful because he is direct. The number of sentences starting with a Poilievre government will at his rallies showed he had ideas. .Wilson said Poilievre talked about his policies everywhere he went and was consistent throughout the campaign. While it is too early to roll out a platform, he said the time to talk about policy is always. .Roth said Poilievre’s approach will attract scrappy Conservative candidates. .“I think those will be better candidates than what you might traditionally think of as star candidates because they have an elite resume,” she said. .CSFN president Jamil Jivani concluded the event by saying Poilievre’s success benefitted every conservative organization in Canada by reaching more young people. .“He’s comfortable on the platforms where a lot of, if not most, millennials and GenZers are getting their political news and information,” said Jivani. .“I think that’s only going to get bigger with more time.” .The first CSFN Canadian Optimists discussion event in July saw Ontario Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development Minister Monte McNaughton speak about conservatives needing to care about enhancing the job market if they want to be successful. .READ MORE: Ontario labour minister says conservatives have to improve work conditions.“Conservatives are the parties of working class Canadians,” said McNaughton. .“I think our success demonstrated that in Ontario.”
