Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen called the Liberals’ deal with the NDP “backdoor socialism.” Leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre suggested it was a “coalition attack on our freedom and our country.” Patrick Brown referred to it as a “nightmare.” But away from the podiums and the social media indignation, some Conservatives were quietly thanking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh for striking a deal that could keep the Liberals in power through 2025. “Three years to rebuild the party infrastructure, raise money, recruit candidates, prepare and road test policies.
This is actually a huge gift to us,” one senior Tory campaigner, who agreed to speak to Global on the condition they not be named, said Tuesday. “The more time Conservatives get to prepare, the more time (we) get to prepare.” Read more: Trudeau confirms Liberals, NDP governance deal until 2025 That’s because the next Conservative leader – whoever is chosen on Sept.
10 – can now bet on three years to rebuild the party, raise money and build up name recognition among the broader electorate.
Time is a rare luxury for a new opposition leader in a minority Parliament. Erin O’Toole had just a year between winning the leadership and facing voters in a general election.