Opinion | A Canadian Conservative Not in Name Only

Canada’s Conservatives have a new leader, the first since Stephen Harper whom they may be excited to support. Earlier this month Pierre Poilievre defeated four opponents, winning more than 70% of the Conservative membership vote and 330 of 338 electoral districts. His victory reflects the determination of conservatives to be led by one of their own.

Mr. Poilievre, an Ottawa-area Member of Parliament with Alberta roots, pledges to scrap the carbon tax, cap deficit spending, end Covid vaccine mandates and fire the central bank governor, who had dismissed inflation as transitory and was slow to address it. Sound familiar? Above all, Mr. Poilievre wants to dismantle bureaucracies that restrict competition and raise prices. “Let’s remove the government gatekeepers to build more homes, grow more food and produce more energy right here in Canada,” he said in his acceptance speech.