Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre made a return visit to Yarmouth, N.S., for the second time in a year and a half. Addressing a crowded room at a Main Street hotel rally on Tuesday, Poilievre criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government on issues such as the high cost of living, fisheries management, and crime rates. He attributed elevated grocery prices to the previous ten years of Liberal governance and expressed disapproval of Fisheries Department policies, particularly citing contentious quotas and the handling of a dispute with Indigenous fishers over their treaty rights to fish for a moderate livelihood.
During his previous visit in August 2024, Poilievre had been accompanied by then Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont at an event held at the Yarmouth airport. However, this time, Poilievre did not have kind words for d’Entremont, who had switched sides to join the Liberals in November, stating that he no longer felt represented within Poilievre’s party. While not explicitly naming d’Entremont, Poilievre referenced a September statement criticizing the rise in food prices, attributing it to the Liberal MP for Acadie-Annapolis who now supports the same policies.
Anticipating criticism, d’Entremont told CBC News before the rally that he expected negativity aimed at obstructing his efforts to serve southwest Nova Scotia effectively. Poilievre’s visit to Yarmouth precedes a crucial vote at the upcoming Conservative Party convention, where his leadership will be put to the test.
For more stories from Digby-Yarmouth-Shelburne, visit the provided link.